House GOP Ups School Funding Offer, Pressure Dayton For Deal

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - House Republicans are pressuring Gov. Mark Dayton to take a deal on public school funding.

Education funding has been the biggest sticking point among three unresolved pieces of the state's budget. House Speaker Kurt Daudt on Monday offered to kick an additional $525 million to public schools for the next two years.

Daudt says it matches an offer the Democratic governor made late in the legislative session.

But Dayton said last week he won't restart special session negotiations with Republicans until they put up at least $550 million. The governor's spokesman did not have an immediate response to Daudt's latest offer.

Top lawmakers have a month to reach a deal and avoid a partial government shutdown. Thirty-day layoff notices were expected to go out Monday to nearly 9,500 state employees.