Dayton sees time pressure in special session decision
updated with Daudt comment
Amid a lack of progress on a special session agreement, Gov. Mark Dayton said top lawmakers need to nail down details soon or risk losing their window for approving tax cuts, a construction borrowing package and a few other items unresolved during their legislative session.
Dayton was headed to St. Peter on Monday to tour the state security hospital with House Speaker Kurt Daudt. The governor's request for $70 million toward building and safety improvements is among the projects in limbo.
Before that trip, Dayton said he would call a new meeting this week with legislative leaders to gauge progress since their last face-to-face talks in mid-July. He said time to decide on a special session is running out.
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"If it's going to happen, it's going to have to happen soon," Dayton said outside a business expansion ceremony in Eagan. "After August 16th it gets to be extremely problematic. You’ve got the State Fair, you’ve Labor Day, got the campaign season, which is really already underway. So, it’s now time to do it or decide we can’t do it.”
After their last meeting, negotiators said they would leave it up to working groups to sort through details on issues that would arise in a special session. No public meetings of those panels have occurred.
Dayton brushed off comments that Daudt, R-Zimmerman, made in Cleveland during a Minnesota Republican National Convention delegation breakfast that Dayton had "caved" on enough demands to make a special session possible.
"I've been around this for 40 years, things people say about me don't really bother me. I want action. I want results," Dayton said. "We'll see if we can get that through a special session."
Daudt also said while at his party's convention that funding for the Southwest Light Rail line remained an obstacle.
Dayton said not approving a required state or local match to federal dollars for the project would be a “senseless” setback.
Dayton and Daudt spoke briefly to reporters following their St. Peter tour.
Daudt said his first visit to the security hospital was an “eye-opening experience.” He said his number one concern is the safety of employees.
“We understand the challenges that we have presented by not funding adequately what they need,” Daudt said. “I think we’ve got some work to do back at the Legislature, and it may take some time to do that. Two hundred one legislators is sometime a tough crew to wrangle in the same direction.”