Mondale, Carlson Organize Shutdown Commission in Hopes of Breaking Budget Impasse

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Two senior statesmen of Minnesota politics have stepped forward to try to help end the state government shutdown.

Former Gov. Arne Carlson and former Vice President Walter Mondale announced Tuesday an independent commission designed to resolve Minnesota's budget deadlock.

Carlson and Mondale won't serve on the panel. They say it will be co-chaired by Republican former state Sen. Stephen Dille and Democratic former state Rep. Wayne Simoneau. The commission will also include Gov. Mark Dayton's budget commissioner, Jim Schowalter.

Other members include budget experts chosen for their bipartisan records.

Carlson told reporters he hopes the panel will finish the proposal and present it by Friday, because of the urgency of resolving the budget stalemate.

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