Dayton, Daudt spat ends special session talks
An escalating disagreement between DFL Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican House Speaker Kurt Daudt over health insurance relief has closed the door on a potential special session.
A proposed tax rebate to offset big individual premium increases must now wait until January.
Dayton and Daudt held a brief, testy meeting Friday, and in an unusual move, they allowed reporters to attend. But it was essentially a face-to-face version of the criticisms they’ve leveled at each other separately this week.
The squabbling continued even as Dayton made it clear he was pulling the plug.
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“We can’t have a special session next Tuesday because we can’t have an agreement, even though the other three caucus leaders are agreeable," Dayton said.
“If you feel strongly about this, governor, you call a session. You can do it. Call it for next Wednesday, and we’ll send you a bill,” Daudt said.
“I’m not going to call a session without prior agreement.” Dayton countered. “I never have before. I’m not going to open the door to every possible amendment and the like. It will be mayhem.”
In addition to the rebates, House Republicans also wanted added protections for policy holders and health care system reforms. Dayton said the GOP proposals hadn’t been vetted.
Daudt said later that the House will pass a health insurance bill the first week of the regular session, which begins Jan. 3.
Without a special session, lawmakers also won’t be able to take up the tax bill and bonding bill that were left unresolved last spring.
Daudt said a bonding bill is unlikely in 2017. But Dayton said he will present a bonding proposal next month.