Local Legislators Comment on Session's End

The spin is underway as to why the legislature and Governor could not come to a budget agreement before the end of the session Monday night.

Republican Mike LeMieur of Little Falls says Governor Dayton forced a special session by not giving input into bills passed by the legislature.  He says spending will increase by six percent, and the Governor should be happy with that.

DFLer John Ward of Brainerd has a different take.  He says Republicans refused to compromise with the Governor.

Representative Ward says the Republican budget is a disaster for senior citizens, education and property taxes.

The Republicans want to resolve budget shortfalls with cuts alone, the governor wants to raise taxes on the wealthiest two percent of Minnesotans to raise an addition $1.8 billion.

The two sides must come to an agreement by the end of June to avoid a government shutdown.