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(AP) - There's still hope for local government leaders
and others who want to see the Legislature return to St. Paul for a
summer special session.

      Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who has sole power to summon lawmakers back,
kept the possibility in play Wednesday.

      "It's not something I'm inclined to do. But we are having
informal discussions with legislative leaders and individual
legislators about the possibility of that occurring and we'll just
see where that leads," Pawlenty told reporters as he emerged from
a breakfast meeting with Michael Wilson, Canada's ambassador to the
United States.

      He stressed he would insist upon a one-day session to pass
mutually agreed upon bills as part of a "modest, limited, focused
agenda."

      Mayors, city council members and other local leaders have been
the most vocal in their calls for a special session. 

They want
legislators to re-approve tens of millions of dollars in local aid
that got ensnared by a veto of a broader tax bill. It contained a
budget accounting provision that Pawlenty opposed.

      Other possible items include additional money for nursing homes,
a ballot measure earmarking money for natural resources and
cultural programs, and a yet-to-be-devised road funding bill.

      Pawlenty said he expects to know in the next few weeks if the
preliminary discussions are bearing fruit. He said he doesn't want
the special session speculation to drag on endlessly.

      The next regular session begins in February 2008.

Gallery

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Pawlenty vetoes tax bill

Politics and Government News

There's still hope for local government leaders
and others who want to see the Legislature return to St. Paul for a summer special session.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who has sole power to summon lawmakers back, kept the possibility in play Wednesday.


Special session talks continue, but Pawlenty keeps high bar

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