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Based on a variety of sources, including this article in the Strib, a budget deal appears imminent. Here’s what the Strib’s Mark Brunswick is reporting:
Legislative leaders expressed renewed optimism Friday about reaching a deal to erase the state’s $936 million budget deficit, predicting an end to the legislative session as early as today.
“We are as close as we have been throughout the negotiation,” House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher said Friday. “It is feeling like we are on the path to an end of session that would probably conclude most likely tomorrow.”
Talks continued into Saturday morning, and outstanding pieces under discussion appeared to include property tax relief and health care reform.
Eaerelier tonight, I got this email update from Steve Gottwalt:
Dear Neighbor:
It looks like a budget balancing deal is nearly complete! I understand the agreement represents real compromise from all sides, and balances the state’s budget without raising taxes. If all goes well, we should be done with the 2008 Legislative Session by tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon, but there are no guarantees, and nothing is certain at this moment. If the agreement holds up, we will have solved a $1 billion state budget deficit without tax increases, prioritizing additional funding for our schools and nursing homes while living within our means. That’s a great result for Minnesota! Frankly, if Republicans had not stood strong with our Governor, we would not have obtained bi-partisanship to accomplish this result. You can’t negotiate equitably from a position of weakness. At a time when Minnesotans are facing tough economic times, we simply cannot afford to keep expanding government programs and spending.
I like the fact that Republican solidarity with Gov. Pawlenty forced the DFL to bargain in good faith. Throughout the 2007 and 2008 sessions, the DFL took a ‘my ay or the highway’ approach. Last year, our ‘Goalie’ stopped all the tax increases. Together with the House GOP caucus, they prevented the DFL from overriding Gov. Pawlenty’s veto.
As you know, that string of DFL defeats came to an aburpt halt with this year’s transportation bill. Nonetheless, the GOP caucus regrouped and held together. As a result, we’re on the verge of solving the budget crisis without raising taxes while capping property tax increases. That’s a pretty nice outcome considering the numbers the GOP was facing.
Stop back later at Let Freedom Ring this morning for more updates. |
