Negotiations Fail; State Government Poised to Shutdown at Midnight

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - A sweeping shutdown of Minnesota state government appears likely as a midnight deadline approaches.

Instead of negotiating, Gov. Mark Dayton and legislative Republicans are holding news conferences to restate their positions.

GOP leaders say they are close to a deal and called on Dayton to pass a so-called "lights on" bill. That would avert the shutdown so lawmakers could come back next week in special session to wrap things up.

But Dayton has refused. He says no special session without final agreement.

The two sides have been at odds for six months on how to solve a $5 billion deficit. Dayton want tax increases, and Republicans say no.

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