Politics & Government

GOP: 'Things Went Backwards' on Day 6 of Minnesota Budget Talks

Gov. Mark Dayton proposed two options to close the $1.4 billion gap between budget plans, but Minnesota's Republican lawmakers rejected the offers.

Just as it seemed like there would be no more room for compromise in state budget negotiations, Gov. Mark Dayton made two proposals Wednesday. He offered to increase the cigarette tax by $1 per pack or create a 2 percent income tax surcharge for the 7,700 Minnesotans who make more than $1 million annually.

But rather than the proposals moving the talks toward the end of a state government shutdown, Republican lawmakers told reporters assembled outside the governor’s office that “things went backwards today.”

Dayton met with GOP leadership Wednesday afternoon to try to break a budget impasse that has lasted six days and left nine legislative bills untouched. A $1.4 billion gap remains. Wednesday’s meeting broke after just 30 minutes.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Dayton said Republican leaders rejected all of his offers.

"If it was a step backwards, it was their step backwards," he said. "I took a step forward. I offered two serious options."

The Republican leadership and Dayton also discussed the option of using gambling revenue to narrow Minnesota’s $5 billion deficit, but Dayton said the Republican party doesn’t have support within its caucus to pass a bill. Other options on the table include $300 million in annual health care surcharges and delayed payments for K-12 education.

There was no word on when the governor and GOP leaders would meet again.

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