Dayton, GOP To Discuss Ending State Shutdown

ST. PAUL (AP) - Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican legislative leaders are returning to budget talks after Dayton offered to accept a Republican revenue plan to end Minnesota's two-week-old government shutdown.

The two sides are scheduled to meet in Dayton's office at 2 p.m. on Thursday.

Top GOP lawmakers have yet to respond publicly to Dayton's offer to accept a proposal to raise $1.4 billion from delayed school aid payments and tobacco payment bonds. Dayton put conditions on the offer, saying the GOP would have to drop a list of policy changes and a plan to reduce the state workforce by 15 percent.

Republicans put the revenue offer on the table in a round of negotiations just before the shutdown began on July 1.