Negotiations Resume at Capitol, No Progress Reported Wednesday

Gov. Mark Dayton said after Tuesday afternoon meetings with GOP leadership that the focus for the next two days will be the K-12 budget and the Health and Human Services budget.

Both sectors are at the crux of a $1.7 billion divide between the parties as they attempt to agree on a two-year budget deal for the state. 

The state government shut down officially at the stroke of midnight last Thursday, closing nearly all departments of the state government for business.

Dayton has rejected a call for a "lights on" bill that would restore operations at things like state parks and the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Meanwhile, in a press conference Tuesday morning, former Minnesota politicians Walter Mondale, Arne Carlson and Dave Durenberger announced the makeup of a committee gathered to create a third budget option.

Whether any solution the panel creates would be accepted by either Gov. Mark Dayton or GOP leadership remains to be seen.