Anxious mood surrounds negotiations at Minn. Capitol

"MN Legislature"

05/18/2007

ST. PAUL (AP) — Gov. Tim Pawlenty's music selection Friday summed up the Capitol mood. He opened his weekly radio show to the Animals' "We Gotta Get Out of This Place."

Lawmakers are looking to steer clear of a special session, which would occur if they can't complete the state budget by Monday's deadline for ending the regular session.

To make it happen, though, Pawlenty and top legislators must agree soon on the size and shape of the two-year budget, which determines how much the state spends on education, prisons and social programs.

Negotiations, Pawlenty said, were "at a sensitive stage" and he wouldn't go into detail.

"It would be good for everybody to finish on time. The deal never really fundamentally changes in these special sessions in June or July. It just ends up ticking everyone off, including the public," the Republican governor said. "All of us have probably promised more than they can deliver so some things are going to have to get thrown overboard."

The major hangups are spending for education and health and welfare programs, leading legislators have said.

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