Lawmakers hurry to finish budget without MN governor’s guarantee

05/21/2007

ST. PAUL (AP) — Minnesota lawmakers dashed toward a midnight deadline Monday to finish the 2007 session — without knowing whether they would have to come back for overtime deliberations.

A handshake agreement with Gov. Tim Pawlenty eluded top lawmakers after eight days of shuttling in and out of his office for face-to-face talks. The Republican governor reserved the right to use his veto power, and lawmakers pressed ahead hoping he would accept their work.

"Not each and every item can be agreed to," said DFL Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller, one of Pawlenty's chief rivals. Pogemiller said he is relying on "the governor's good judgment, which we believe he will exercise."

At stake are major pieces of a roughly $35 billion state budget, including spending for public schools, social services and roads. If Pawlenty rejects entire bills, he would be forced to call lawmakers into a special session to redo them. But he could also remove objectionable spending items using the line-item veto, without forcing any extra legislative work.

"The governor's office has been consulted and we told DFLers about our concerns, but in the end, the final product is theirs," said Pawlenty's spokesman, Brian McClung. "They are assembling it without a global agreement. The governor is reserving his right to veto or line-item veto bills that come to us like that, and our office is going to carefully scrutinize every bill."

It's uncommon to end a Minnesota legislative session without cutting a final deal.

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