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Gov. Mark Dayton Friday offered House Republicans what he called a compromise on the only issue holding up a special session, but House Speaker Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, rejected the offer.

The dispute is over the responsibilities of the Minnesota State Auditor, and the ongoing standoff between two of the state's top leaders raised again the possibility of a partial government shutdown on July 1.

"Our major remaining difference is the House’s insistence to privatize the state auditor’s principal responsibility to audit most Minnesota counties," Dayton said in a statement issued by his office.

"We both have strongly-held convictions for and against this measure.  Repeating them any further would be very unlikely to change anyone’s mind and very likely to cause the collapse of our entire near-agreement," the statement continued. "Thus, last night I offered to accept the House’s language in its entirety, while only postponing the date upon which counties could select their private auditors by one year, from August 1, 2016 to August 1, 2017."

"I don’t expect House Republicans to like this compromise any more than I do.  I ask them to agree to it, while not agreeing with it, to conclude the people’s business, ” Dayton concluded.

Daudt notes that Dayton signed the bill just two weeks ago that made the changes to the auditor's job. It's unreasonable to now suggest state government might shut down because Dayton wants changes, Daudt said.

“My guess is that the governor is going to come to his senses and say ‘you know what? It’s time for us to do what’s best for the 9,400 Minnesotans that don’t have certainty on their jobs, for the farmers in Minnesota that don’t have certainty on the avian flu relief, for the steel workers on the Iron Range that are waiting for unemployment benefits,’” Daudt said.

Dayton maintains he signed the original bill because it funded all state departments, and he didn't want to put state workers' jobs at risk.

Daudt contends there isn't enough support in the House to make the change Dayton is demanding.

 some of the bills that will be considered when  Dayton calls lawmakers  into a special session.

The bills deal with education funding, public works projects and how the state will spend sales tax money dedicated to conservation, wildlife and the arts.

Dayton vetoed three budget bills last month, forcing him to renegotiate the budget with legislative leaders.

The education bill increases funding for early childhood education and K-12 schools by $525 million. It increases per pupil funding from $5,831 to $5,948 in 2016 and $6,067 in 2017.

It also increases funding for early childhood education by nearly $90 million ($48 million for scholarships for disadvantaged pre-schoolers, school readiness money by $30 million and Head Start funding by $10 million).

Legislative leaders are still negotiating their differences on an agriculture and environment budget bill and a jobs and energy budget bill.

There’s still no word on when Dayton will call a special session.

Politics and Government News

Capitol View®

Tom Scheck

Author

Gov. Mark Dayton Friday offered House Republicans what he called a compromise on the only issue holding up a special session, but GOP House Speaker Kurt Daudt rejected the offer.

Dayton: Session deal hinges on date of auditor changes

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