Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Capitol View®
Tim Pugmire

Legislative leaders reach budget deal, Dayton reviewing it

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.

dealreached
Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, left, and House Speaker Kurt Daudt, right,announced a tentative budget agreement outside the governer's residence. Tim Pugmire|MPR News

The top Republican in the Minnesota House and the top Democrat in the state Senate announced late Friday that they had hammered out a tentative budget agreement, the specifics of which were not disclosed.

DFL Gov. Mark Dayton has not yet approved it. A spokesman said the governor is still reviewing the agreement so far.

With a Monday midnight adjournment looming and hours of private meetings behind them, House Speaker Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, and Senate Majority Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook sounded optimistic that they can finish on time.

Daudt told reporters that everybody gave up something and got something in return.

“All of us kind of set aside some of our differences and certainly some of our priorities to come together,” Daudt said. “I think we’ll put a budget together that we can finish on time and frankly we think the governor will be with us in signing that.”

Daudt said he’s counting an increase in nursing home funding as one of his wins. He said the GOP plan to eliminate MinnesotaCare will not happen.

Bakk said there will be significant new money for K-12 education and higher education, and a significant amount of money left unspent. He would not provide any numbers.

Bakk said agreements were not reached on transportation funding or taxes, but those issues could still be addressed.

“We virtually spent no time talking about taxes or about a comprehensive transportation package,” Bakk said. “That’s not to say we’re not going to spend some time talking in the next couple of days.”

Daudt said transportation and taxes could also be addressed in the 2016 session.