Dayton tours state for ideas to build jobs

Dayton says 'no deal'
DFL Gov. Mark Dayton spoke to reporters Thursday night, June 30, 2011, after budget talks broke off between him and Republican legislative leaders. Dayton declined to sign a "lights on" bill requested by the Republicans which would have kept state government running until a final deal was reached.
MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson

Gov. Mark Dayton will discuss ideas for creating jobs today during a meeting with community leaders in Fergus Falls.

In the first of a 12-city jobs tour and a series of meetings, Dayton will speak with local elected officials, business owners and others involved in regional economic development efforts. Getting Minnesota working again is Dayton's top priority, and he's looking for concrete solutions. The governor also has a statewide jobs summit in the works for late October.

"And that's what 200,000 people who are not working in Minnesota need is jobs, real jobs, not conversations," Dayton said.

The next Legislative session doesn't begin until late January, but Dayton says he won't wait that long to implement a good idea if it hears one on the tour.

Dayton will tour the Pioneer Care Center in Fergus Falls and host a roundtable discussion at the Minnesota State Community and Technical College campus.

Republicans also emphasize the need for new jobs. House Speaker Kurt Zellers said he looks forward to working with Dayton on some bipartisan initiatives, as long as they focus on private-sector jobs.

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