A false start on daylong budget talks?

Republicans in the House and Senate planned on holding daylong meetings with Gov. Dayton on Friday and Saturday with the hopes of reaching a budget deal and averting a state government shutdown. But those talks are even in jeopardy after there was a disagreement over who should be involved in the talks.

Senate Republican Caucus spokesman Michael Brodkorb issued a statement late last night saying Gov. Dayton agreed to talks that would only include Dayton, GOP House Speaker Kurt Zellers and GOP Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch. But Brodkorb said in an e-mail that the talks are now in jeopardy because Dayton wants DFL House Minority Leader Paul Thissen and DFL Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk involved as well.

Governor Dayton communicated that he was now requesting that Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk and House Minority Leader Paul Thissen would also be in the room for negotiations. The Governor admitted that this was not part of the original agreement. Rep. Thissen and Sen. Bakk have offered little, if anything, to recent budget negotiations. They have also previously stated that they have no intention of offering a global budget solution.

While Senate Majority Leader Koch is committed to reaching a budget solution and preventing a state government shutdown, Governor Dayton's decision to break the agreement calls into question whether there will be any meetings on Friday or Saturday. Senate Majority Leader Koch is available for direct comment on this disappointing development.

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Dayton and the Legislature have until July 1 to reach a budget deal. State government will shut down if no agreement is reached.

UPDATE:

Gov. Dayton's Senior Communications Advisor Bob Hume issued a statement Thursday morning:

"The governor's priority is finding a fair and balanced budget solution. We urge the Republican leadership to reconsider the gravity of the situation Minnesotans are facing and meet tomorrow morning at 9:00 am so we can work in a bipartisan way on a meaningful compromise."