Dayton: Fate of special session in hands of legislative leaders

Gov. Mark Dayton’s message was clear on Tuesday: the fate of a potential special legislative session is in the hands of House and Senate leaders.

Saying he still held out hope for a Dec. 20 special session to address skyrocketing MNsure insurance premiums and last session’s unresolved tax and bonding bills, Dayton released proposed bill language and called on House and Senate leaders to find quick agreement.

Caucus leaders need to sign an agreement by Thursday, Dayton said, if lawmakers are to meet next week ahead of the 2017 legislative session that is scheduled to begin Jan. 3.

“The ball is really in the legislators’ court,” Dayton said. “I've done all I could.”

MORE View Gov. Dayton’s proposed special session agreement

The governor’s proposals include pulling $312 million from the Health Care Access Fund to pay for a 25 percent rebate for Minnesotans purchasing health insurance on the state’s exchange.

Dayton also proposes an amended version of the tax bill passed by lawmakers in May, and a bonding bill that includes all the projects passed by the House and Senate in the waning minutes of the 2016 session minus highway project earmarks and $300 million in cash for transportation projects.

Dayton said he would not agree to a revived tax bill without an agreement from lawmakers on the bonding bill.

In a letter to lawmakers, the governor also said he would propose a special session to pass only the health insurance premium relief measure if agreement can’t be reached on taxes and bonding. 

More Read Gov. Dayton’s letter to legislative leaders

“It's time to do it,” Dayton said, “or not do it.”