Dayton, GOP leaders meet again as time dwindles

Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican lawmakers are back in budget talks as the clock runs down on heading off a government shutdown.

Dayton is meeting Tuesday morning with House Speaker Kurt Zellers and Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch). They're saying little about the content of their discussions.

Koch says they're close to agreement in some areas of the budget and it's time to get a deal done.

Dayton declined to comment on the status of the talks on his way into the meeting.

Minnesota's second government shutdown in six years would be triggered at midnight Thursday into Friday unless Dayton and lawmakers reach a deal to keep the state functioning. A court ruling is expected this week on how a shutdown would be handled.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)