Pawlenty’s latest offer: ‘Limit potential unallotments’

A 10:45 a.m. meeting between Gov. Tim Pawlenty and legislative leaders has been pushed back to 12:15 p.m.

According to a communique from Pawlenty spokesman Brian McClung, the governor’s most recent offer was presented by Management and Budget Commissioner Tom Hanson at about 1 a.m. today: "Our office did not receive a counteroffer or reply from DFL legislative leaders at any point on Sunday," McClung wrote.

The details of Pawlenty’s latest offer: Close as much of the remaining $2.7 billion gap (after line-item vetoes) as possible through mutually agreed-upon items, with the goal of making as much progress as possible and limiting the size of potential unallotments.

"Categories of agreement" could include:

• House DFL K-12 shift level ($1.775 billion)
• LGA-related items, $14 million in tax compliance and other agreed-upon items
• Mutually agreed-upon higher education reductions
• Additional spending reductions in signed budget bills

"Several of these proposals were reflected in your 9:30 p.m. Saturday offer that is
still being discussed in the Legislative Commission on Planning and Fiscal Policy
at this time," the offer said.

"Our office continues to have an open invitation to legislative leaders to meet any time," McClung’s latest e-mail said.