In Session’s Final Push, Minnesota Budget Deal Still Elusive

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Minnesota's legislative session is heading into its final week with no clear picture of how a budget will come together.

Pressure is mounting in private negotiations as a May 18 deadline approaches. Top Senate Democrats and House Republicans still need to work out major differences on education spending, the size of potential tax cuts and a transportation funding package.

Sen. Richard Cohen is a 35-year veteran Democrat and a Finance Committee chairman. He says the path to a deal is still meandering.

House Speaker Kurt Daudt says Republicans are willing to agree on $1 billion in tax cuts. That's half what they had lined up.

Other areas are trickier. Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk says he won't meet Republicans halfway on their $1 billion in cuts to health care spending.