Dayton, GOP Leaders Break Off Budget Talks Again

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Budget talks between Minnesota's Democratic governor and Republican legislative leaders have broken off with no word of progress in the dispute over taxes and spending that's led to a state government shutdown.

Gov. Mark Dayton, House Speaker Kurt Zellers and Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch met for about an hour Tuesday afternoon. It was their first time in a room together after budget talks fell apart late Thursday.

Republicans say they again asked Dayton to agree on portions of the budget and pass bills so the shutdown ends in those areas, but Dayton has resisted that approach.

The talks resumed after many lawmakers spent the holiday weekend in their districts listening to frustrated constituents. The shutdown has stopped everything from road construction to services for the deaf and blind.

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