Meetings continue but still no deal

GOP legislative leaders have held two brief meetings with Gov. Dayton today. The most recent round of budget talks ended with just 11 hours until state government shuts down.

Senate Republican Caucus spokesman Michael Brodkorb says he expects another round of meetings to be held today but said none are scheduled.

Dayton, GOP House Speaker Kurt Zellers or GOP Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch have not made any comments about the budget talks since Tuesday night.

The two sides are working to find a compromise on a two-year budget that erases a $5 billion projected budget deficit. Dayton wants to raise income taxes on Minnesota's top earners, along with spending cuts. Republicans say the deficit can be erased through spending cuts alone.

Brodkorb says nearly every Republican member of the Senate is in St. Paul right now. He said a private caucus meeting was held this morning but refused to comment on details of the discussions.

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