Amy Koch

Governor Mark Dayton and Republican legislative leaders met briefly but did not reach a budget deal with a government shutdown now only four days away. Dayton, House Speaker Kurt Zellers and Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch met privately for less than an hour Monday. Afterward the three appeared before the press together and say they're still hopeful of a deal that could head off a July 1 shutdown.

Gov. Mark Dayton has vetoed legislation that would have allowed more coal power in Minnesota. Dayton, a Democrat, rejected the bill on Friday, saying it was "unwise and unnecessary." It's drawn criticism from Republicans in the Legislature.

They had breakfast together, but the Governor and top Republican lawmakers are still split over taxes and spending as the clock ticks closer to adjournment.

Gov. Mark Dayton says he is willing to meet the Republican Legislature halfway with a smaller income tax increase as end-of-session budget talks begin. The Democratic governor outlined a new proposal Monday, raising the level for a new top-tier income tax bracket and dropping a property tax on homes worth more than $1 million.

Gov. Mark Dayton says he expects budget talks with top Republican lawmakers to pick up in the coming days. The Democratic governor said Tuesday that his breakfast meeting with GOP legislative leaders was "constructive."

Gov. Mark Dayton says he's still waiting for legislative Republicans to send him a budget so they can start negotiating. The Democratic governor held a news conference Friday to push the GOP majorities for their fix for a $5 billion deficit.

The top Senate Republican says the Minnesota Legislature likely won't vote this year on a bill to lift a ban on new nuclear power plants. Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch told reporters Thursday that the bill is "on pause" after passing both chambers in February.

Top legislative Republicans stopped in St. Cloud today (Monday). They were on a statewide tour pushing their plan to eliminate the $5 billion budget gap without raising taxes. Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch says Republicans are reigning-in out of control spending.

Senate and House Republican leaders are traveling around the state today (Monday). They're promoting their complete budget solution. They'll be at the St. Cloud Regional Airport at 11:45 a.m. today.

Minnesota's Senate majority leader says she doesn't want to strictly require that opening prayers in the Senate chamber be nondenominational. The content of Senate prayers became an issue this week after several Jewish senators said they were uncomfortable during a prayer by a Baptist pastor from St. Cloud who made multiple references to Jesus and Christianity.