Dayton, Republicans Agree To Keep Trying On Budget

ST. PAUL  (AP) - Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican legislative leaders say they've agreed to a series of budget talks starting next week.

But the Democratic governor says the meetings will be "just for show" unless they agree on the amount of money the state will spend in the upcoming two-year budget.

Dayton says he has asked Republicans to tell him when they meet again Monday how much they're willing to spend.

GOP Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch says the series of meetings she proposed are a roadmap to avoiding a sweeping government shutdown starting next month. The schedule calls for a final budget agreement on June 21 and a special session starting June 27.

But Dayton says he won't call a special session without a budget deal.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)