Pawlenty, state's top Democrats to have breakfast

Gov. Tim Pawlenty and top legislative Democrats are getting together over breakfast on Tuesday to talk about the upcoming session.

It's their first face-to-face meeting since the Republican governor rejected a DFL budget-balancing plan that would have raised taxes five months ago. Instead, Pawlenty used his own authority to balance the budget by cutting more spending.

The 2010 Legislature begins on Feb. 4. Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller says he wants lawmakers and Pawlenty to find new spending cuts to reduce an anticipated future deficit.

Other invitees include House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, House Majority Leader Tony Sertich, Assistant Senate Majority Leader Tarryl Clark and Management and Budget Commissioner Tom Hanson.