Budget Negotiations Resume Behind Closed Doors

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Minnesota's Republican legislative leaders and
Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton have resumed negotiations aimed at settling the
state budget.

The two sides were back in talks Friday behind closed doors, with a Monday
deadline for the Legislature to adjourn.

They traded offers earlier in the week but progress froze Thursday. They are
roughly $1 billion apart on overall spending.

Dayton wants to boost spending for his flagship preschool program and increase
state government's cybersecurity efforts, among other things, while Republicans
have focused on tax cuts and transportation spending.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, of Nisswa, said Thursday night
that Republicans were working on another offer but offered little detail as to
what it would contain.