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With lawmakers deadlocked on light rail, still no special session

House Speaker Kurt Daudt addresses the media Aug. 12, after meeting with Gov. Mark Dayton, right, and Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, left, about progress toward an agreement for a special session. Photo by Paul Battaglia
House Speaker Kurt Daudt addresses the media Aug. 12, after meeting with Gov. Mark Dayton, right, and Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, left, about progress toward an agreement for a special session. Photo by Paul Battaglia

Disagreement among top Minnesota lawmakers over state funding for the proposed Southwest light rail line continues to stand in the way of a potential special session, Gov. Mark Dayton and legislative leaders said Friday.

Next week had been the aim for a special session to pass a corrected tax relief bill and an almost-$1 billion public works borrowing bill. But, following a nearly two-hour meeting between  Dayton, House Speaker Kurt Daudt (R-Crown) and Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk (DFL-Cook), all said the planned Minneapolis-to-Eden Prairie transit route continued to be the sticking point to striking a deal.

House/Senate/Governor Media Availability 8/12/16

“I think we’re pretty close to agreeing on everything but the Southwest light rail piece,” Daudt told reporters.

WATCH Video of the House/Senate/Governor media availability on YouTube

Daudt said following Friday’s meeting that his House Republican caucus would not support moving forward with any special session agreement that includes the light rail project; Bakk said his Senate DFL caucus would reject any deal without it.

Legislative leaders are scheduled to meet with Dayton again next Thursday. The governor said if they haven’t struck a deal following that get-together, lawmakers should face the fact that they cannot agree on the terms of a special session.

Despite the continued Southwest standoff, Dayton, Daudt and Bakk said their latest meeting was productive and that agreement had been found on a $995 million general obligation bonding package.

A corrected tax bill would also be a part of any special session. Dayton, a DFLer, pocket vetoed a $259 million package of tax cuts in June over an error that would have cost the state an estimated $100 million had it been enacted into law.


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