Governor Mark Dayton

With the Legislature beginning its budget votes, Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton has warned majority Republicans that he won't accept slices of the budget until an agreement on a full plan is reached.

State House Republicans are proposing that Minnesota prisoners be forced to come up with a $5 co-pay for every visit they make to a health care provider. It's one part of the House GOP's proposed two-year budget for public safety and corrections. The Republican plan proposes spending about $1 billion on corrections and other public safety programs, about $55 million less than what Gov. Mark Dayton has proposed.

Gov. Mark Dayton is criticizing a House health care budget bill for counting on federal permission to cut Medicaid spending. The Democratic governor said Tuesday that it was "fantasy island" to bank on $300 million in savings from a federal health care waiver that might not come through.

Gov. Mark Dayton has signed a new law aimed at speeding up environmental reviews and business permits. The Democratic governor said Thursday that the bill will push the state to move "at the speed of commerce."

Gov. Mark Dayton says early planning will be the key to successfully combat expected widespread flooding this spring. Dayton spoke Wednesday in South St. Paul, at a meeting that included municipal, law enforcement and emergency officials from several cities.

Minnesota lawmakers have sent a $900 million package of budget cuts to Gov. Mark Dayton, risking a veto. The bill passed the Senate 37-28 on Thursday, after clearing the House 68-61 a day earlier.

A $900 million package of budget cuts that passed the House is expected to get a vote in the Senate on Thursday. Senate approval would send the bill Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton, who has criticized the legislation as a piecemeal approach to Minnesota's $6.2 billion deficit.

Governor Mark Dayton delivered his first State of the State address today at the State Capitol. We aired the speech live on AM 1240 WJON. If you missed it, here's some of the highlights from the speech.