Politics & Government

Special Session Called, Shutdown Could End Soon

Sen. Ted Lillie says there are still items he has to examine before deciding whether he will support the proposed budget.

Minnesota legislators have been called back to their seats and an end to the state government shutdown appears just hours away.

Gov. Mark Dayton called for a special legislative session to begin at 3 p.m. today—19 days into the Minnesota government shutdown—after approving preliminary versions of nine legislative bills totaling $35.4 billion over the 2012-13 biennium. 

On the phone from the Capitol this morning, Sen. Ted Lillie, a Republican who represents Woodbury, said lawmakers have seen presentations about many of the bills, but there are still some details he has to examine before committing to a vote on the budget.

Find out what's happening in Woodburywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Still, Lillie said he’s pleased to be heading back to the Senate chambers this afternoon, and added that there are several reforms included in the legislation that “people will be pleased with.”

“This is great news,” he said.

Find out what's happening in Woodburywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Rep. Andrea Kieffer, a Republican from Woodbury, encouraged people to go to the House website to view the summaries and text of the proposals.

During a dinner break at about 5 p.m., Kieffer told Patch that she was still combing over the bills, though she reiterated her stance that the spending was a little higher than she had hoped.

"There's a lot of good reforms coming down the pike that the governor is willing to support," Kieffer said. "That's part of his compromise."

Like Lillie, Kieffer said she isn't ready to say how she will vote on the budget bills. But on the prospect of the state finally having a budget in place: "I'm optimistic."

"It would be great to get the state back to work," Kieffer said.

Legislators have resolved some of the session’s more contentious bills—on K-12 education, state government, jobs and economic development, taxes and higher education.

The public safety/judiciary, transportation and environment bills were given the nod Monday afternoon, a day after legislators agreed in principle on an $11 billion Health and Human Services bill.

No mention was made of the governor’s request for a $500 million bonding bill next session—a stipulation of his agreement to the Republican-written budget.

The bonding bill, Dayton argues, allows the state to borrow money to pay for public works projects and the thousands of jobs that come with them.

Provided the Legislature passes the bills, Dayton plans to sign them into law “as they come in” Tuesday afternoon and, effectively, end the shutdown.

The governor said it would then take a “few days” to notify and call back to work the 22,000 state workers laid off July 1.


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