Talks continue as budget deal remains elusive

07/08/2005

Patrick Condon,
Associated Press
July 8, 2005

ST. PAUL — Talks to end the state’s week-old government shutdown broke up early this morning without a deal between Gov. Tim Pawlenty and legislative leaders.

Both sides said an agreement to end the six-week-old special session was tantalizingly close, but that last-minute disputes had cropped up on questions of funding and policy reforms for K-12 education.

“We’re going to go get some sleep and come back tomorrow,’’ said Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson, DFL-Willmar, leaving the Republican governor’s office at about 3:45 a.m.

The final disagreements centered around public schools, according to both Johnson and a spokesman for Pawlenty. But while Johnson said it had to do with per-pupil funding formulas, Pawlenty spokesman Brian McClung said it was more related to proposed policy reforms.

It appeared that Republicans had abandoned a quest to make gambling profits part of the budget deal. Pawlenty and key allies had pushed to authorize a casino at Canterbury Park racetrack that would have generated profit for the state, but asked if that was still on the table, Pawlenty Chief of Staff Dan McElroy said: “I don’t believe it is.’’

An early-morning deal would have allowed the House and Senate to convene later in the morning and pass a “lights on’’ bill that would have reopened state agencies closed by the shutdown, and ensured that 8,900 furloughed state workers would return to work on Monday.

McClung said that’s still a possibility. Both sides said the decision to end the talks, which went for nearly eight hours straight, was mutual and not prompted by partisan anger.

“It got to a point where both sides felt it was important to take a break,’’ McClung said. “I think everyone’s optimistic that both sides remain close.’’

No time had been set for talks to resume today — the eighth day of the first government shutdown in state history — but all sides said they would come back to the table.

The continuing stalemate has meant the barricading of highway rest areas, no new driver’s licenses for state residents, and a stop to an array of services provided by nonprofits that rely on state funding.

However, freeway traffic cameras, electronic road message boards and crews that assist stranded motorists were on the verge of being revived with a determination that they are essential state services.

Ed Stringer, the special court master hearing about hardships caused by the shutdown, said Thursday that he’d recommend restoration of the services.

The cameras are used by police dispatchers to spot emergencies and by traffic watchers who alert people to tie-ups and crashes. The message boards do much the same thing and also carry Amber Alerts when children go missing.

Minneapolis Sen. Wes Skoglund, a DFLer, successfully persuaded Stringer to get the services back on line. Another judge must still sign off.

Skoglund’s requests to reopen rest stops and restore full driver’s licensing services were denied.

Stringer also heard from county officials and assured them that various aid checks used to pay for social services for children and vulnerable adults will go out as planned. Counties were worried about having to fill the void if checks due Thursday were held up.