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