MINNEAPOLIS, June 26 (UPI) -- Minnesota legislative leaders met over the weekend in an effort to break a budget stalemate that could force a partial shutdown of state services on Friday.
House and Senate leaders had said earlier they were "cautiously optimistic" about reaching a compromise after receiving a new offer from House Republicans and Gov. Tim Pawlenty, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported Sunday.
The newspaper said the new offer is $600 million higher than an earlier House offer. It includes a commitment to cover all current Minnesotans enrolled in MinnesotaCare, the state subsidized insurance plan.
Preparations for a possible partial shutdown of government began last week, with the governor issuing a hiring freeze in which only critical vacancies will be filled statewide.
If the stalemate is not broken by Friday, nearly 16,000 state employees will not be allowed to report to work.
The governor and Attorney General Mike Hatch asked a judge last week to determine which functions of state government could be defined as essential and remain operating during a shutdown.
