Lawmakers Pushing Legislation As Session Deadline Draws Near

On a busy Monday at the Capitol, state Rep. Andrea Kieffer was on the House floor.

“And that’s pretty much where I’ll be for the next two weeks or so,” she said.

Kieffer said her colleagues are forging ahead in hopes of completing their work before the 2011 session comes to an end. But Gov. Mark Dayton seems to be “dragging his feet” and has asked to see budget proposals as one big package, she said.

“Which is kind of ridiculous, because education is ready to go,” said Kieffer, a Republican from Woodbury.

This week is primarily dedicated to omnibus hearings at the Capitol, she said, and lawmakers in the lower chamber are making headway on the large bills that will shape how the state settles its $5 billion deficit.

“We feel that the house is on task,” she said. “You hear that the House has not passed a budget, that’s not true—we have.”

Meanwhile, Kieffer’s first piece of legislation that passed through the House——is in conference committee, and she’s continuing to push for and a bill to .

Sen. Ted Lille, who is part of the GOP team negotiating the budget with the governor, had breakfast with Mark Dayton and other lawmakers Tuesday morning. Lillie said there's still a "vast difference" between the two sides, though he reported that the governor has come down from his stance on tax increases.

"But half a bad idea is still a bad idea," Lille said.