After a four-month grind, Minn. lawmakers ready for the end
by The Associated Press
    
ST. PAUL -- Minnesota lawmakers are ready to take the final votes of their 2008 legislative session.
    
Sometime late today or early tomorrow they hope to complete work on a package of bills addressing homeowner property taxes, tight school budgets, a nearly $1 billion state deficit and finance plans for the Mall of America and urban mass-transit users.
    
There are some wild cards remaining. Sponsors of a vetoed proposal to raise the minimum wage are hoping a scaled-back plan prevails. And a veto override is possible on a bill prohibiting Minnesota from complying with federal-imposed driver's license overhaul many Republicans and Democrats view as heavyhanded and underfunded.
    
But the most attention was being paid to bills dealing with property taxes, health care policies and the state budget.