Gov Mark Dayton (Pioneer Press: John Autey)
Gov Mark Dayton (Pioneer Press: John Autey)

Despite some momentary turbulence, Republican leaders and Gov. Mark Dayton still plan to meet today for budget talks that could last all of the next two days and offer hope of ending a state budget impasse.

As they agreed Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, R-Buffalo, and House Speaker Kurt Zellers, R-Maple Grove, said they will meet privately with Dayton and Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner Jim Schowalter.

Koch and Zellers said the group could spend all day today and Saturday discussing budget bills in hopes of finding agreement on individual ones, especially those in which the sides aren't far apart.

How productive that approach will be, however, is unclear.

Dayton hasn't backed off his insistence that Republicans increase their budget proposal and that both sides reach agreement on the entire package of bills before he calls legislators back for a special session.

The proposed meeting almost went off track late Wednesday and Thursday when Koch objected to Dayton's move to include Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, and House Minority Leader Paul Thissen, DFL-Minneapolis.

She and Zellers contended the meetings would have a better chance of succeeding with the original participants.

Koch objected specifically to Dayton's decision to include Bakk.

"He's offered zero solutions,'' Koch said of Bakk.

Dayton spokeswoman Katie Tinucci defended Dayton's decision to include Thissen and Bakk at the 9 a.m. meeting.

"He insists on the right to bring to the meeting the people necessary to negotiate a fair and balanced budget solution that is in the best interest of Minnesotans,'' the spokeswoman said in an email.

Thursday afternoon, Koch and Zellers reiterated their commitment to doing what they could to reach a budget deal and prevent a shutdown July 1.

With seven days to go before that could happen, the two sides remain far apart. Republicans want a $34 billion two-year budget tied to existing revenue, whereas Dayton wants to increase taxes on the state's highest earners to pay for a $35.8 billion budget.

Dennis Lien can be reached at 651-228-5588.