Lawmakers race to pass budget

Budget to be finalized before May 18th

(AP) – Minnesota lawmakers are starting a three-day sprint to hash out the specifics of a budget deal.             

Legislators were expected to return to the Capitol Saturday for a weekend of around-the-clock work to finish bills and pass a budget.

Top House and Senate negotiators forged an agreement Friday they say will allow the Legislature to complete a two-year, $41.5 million budget before Monday’s midnight deadline, but Gov. Mark Dayton isn’t on board with the deal.

The Democratic governor says he won’t accept a budget that has less than $550 million in new education funding and wants money for a prized statewide preschool program.

Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk and House Speaker Kurt Daudt says they plan to proceed with their plan to put $400 million into K-12 schools.