As Minnesota Budget Takes Stage, Leaders on Different Pages

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Minnesota lawmakers have returned from a week-long break
ready to resume working on a new budget.

There are vast differences between the budgets passed by the
Republican-controlled House and Senate and what Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton has
proposed. But legislative leaders' first task will be deciding how and when
they'll start negotiating.

None of the top leaders agree on how they should approach the trickiest part of
the session. Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka said Tuesday he wants to begin
meeting with Dayton and House Speaker Kurt Daudt this week to start working
toward a deal.

Dayton told legislative leaders in a letter he wants to wait until the House
and Senate have settled their own budgetary differences.

The Legislature has five weeks to finalize a new, two-year budget.