Governor says property tax cap is key to a budget deal
by The Associated Press
 
ST. PAUL -- Governor Tim Pawlenty says getting a property tax cap that would reduce projected increases by at least 100 million dollars a year remains the key to an overall budget agreement.

And he's threatening to oppose the Central Corridor light rail project and other DFL priorities without a deal.

A Pawlenty spokesman says talks between the GOP governor and DFL legislative leaders began at 5:15 p.m. and recessed before 7 p.m. while other officials continued discussions.

Late tonight, the governor wrote to Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller and House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher. He said he wanted their commitment on the cap before negotiating other major elements of a budget deal.

Earlier in the night, Kelliher and Pogemiller wrote to Pawlenty saying they had made ``numerous attempts'' to accommodate his concerns, and that they thought they were ``relatively close'' to agreement.