special session

Republican legislative leaders are renewing their demand that Gov. Mark Dayton call a special session to pass budget bills that would prevent - or at least soften the pain of - a government shutdown in four days.

Top Republican lawmakers are urging Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton to call a special session to avoid a government shutdown, even though the two sides remain stalemated on the budget. Dayton has sole power to convene a special session, but he has repeatedly said he won't do so until he and GOP lawmakers reach an overall budget deal.

Three Democratic lawmakers made a stop in St. Cloud today to talk about the end of the Legislative session and a special session that will be needed to approve a new state budget. Representative Larry Hosch of St. Joseph and Representative John Ward of Brainerd were joined by Assistant Senate Minority Leader Terri Bonoff of Minnetonka.

We know the State Legislature adjourned the regular session without getting a deal done on a budget or a Vikings stadium. But there are a lot of other issues that have been left in limbo as well.

At some point the State Legislature is going to have to go into a special session to complete the budget for the next biennium. Exactly when and how long that special session will is yet to be determined. However, we do know that whenever it happens several of our local lawmakers have pledged to not be paid for it.

A special session for Minnesota lawmakers is a certainty after the Legislature adjourned without a budget deal between Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton and Republicans who control the House and Senate.

A State Senator from St. Cloud believes the legislature is heading toward a special session. While on WJON this (Friday) morning Senator John Peterson says he is less optimistic than ever, after Governor Dayton made a comment that he was willing to call a special session -- if the budget proposal doesn't include a tax increase for the state's highest earners.