UPDATED: A Deal is Done, Mendota Heights Legislators Critical of Temporary Solution

Minnesota’s legislators are heading back to work.

Gov. Mark Dayton and state Republican legislative leaders Thursday afternoon agreed on a preliminary budget and took the first steps toward ending the government shutdown.

During a three-hour meeting in the governor’s office, the parties agreed to a Republican budget proposal first presented June 30 that would not raise taxes, but would borrow money to balance the budget.

The deal will raise $1.4 billion in the short term by issuing state bonds against future tobacco revenue ($700 million) and shifting more K-12 education aid payments out ($700 million).

As part of the agreement, Republicans agreed to three of

“I’m not sure I would vote for this,” said Rep. Rick Hansen (D-District 39A). “Most of (voters) comments from the right, middle and the left from the district today have been—I don’t think too many people are excited about the deal,” said Hansen. “I think there is some relief that it’s done, but there is some strong disagreement to the deal across the spectrum. It’s not from one side or the other.”

Sen. Jim Metzen (D-District 39) said he was not impressed by the solution, but that he understood that something had to break the impasse.

“The Republicans were so dug in. They were not going to move, and I think Dayton understood that,” said Metzen.

In a tense meeting with reporters at the Capitol following the meeting, Dayton said he expects to call a special session for legislators and to pass a budget “very soon. Within days.”

Dayton said he expected he and Republican leadership would work late into the night and through the weekend to finalize budget bills that will then be brought before the Legislature to be voted on.

“The things I’m going to look for in the deal are what happens with policy. How much policy is in it,” said Hansen. “And what does that mean in the individual bills, because the individual bills have policy as well.”

“This is an agreement that is difficult for both sides,” said Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch (R-District 19) in today’s press conference. “There’s been some good discussions and some coming together on agreements for reforms.”

House Speaker Kurt Zellers (R-District 32B) agreed reaching a deal—as well as the shutdown—has been difficult.

“We are in an imperfect situation,” Zellers said. But in the end, “we’re focused on getting the lights back on and getting the government up and running again.”

Despite the agreement, Dayton reiterated his disappointment with the deal, which he announced Thursday morning.

“I’m disappointed I wasn’t able to persuade a legislative majority of the wisdom of my approach to raise taxes on the wealthiest Minnesotans,” Dayton said. “In the absence of that, however, this is an agreement today.”

“We’re pushing the can down the street," said Metzen. "We’re taking $700 million from the schools. … These issues have to be paid for somehow, some day.”

Koch said she expected the budget to pass the special session.

“We’re working with our caucus. We need to hammer out final details in these bills, but we’re confident,” Koch said. “We’re focused solely on making sure these bills are processed as quickly as possible.”