Legislators hopeful progress can be made in budget talks
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
DFL legislative leaders said they expect to make a lot of progress today during end of the session budget talks with Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
Closed-door negotiations resumed this morning after reaching an impasse Tuesday night.
One of the sticking points is the Republican governor's insistence that the budget deal include a cap on local property taxes. Democrats say they also want property tax relief, but they claim Pawlenty's proposal would be harmful to cities and counties.
During a break in the negotiations, House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis, said the cap is still a big issue.
"We don't want to punish Minnesotans by our actions at the Legislature. We need to make sure that they can have a reasonable level of police and fire safety and have communities share in equality and equity around the state," Kelliher said.
Pawlenty spokesman Brian McClung said a cap is the best way to to provide property tax relief. He said the governor's proposal is workable.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.