ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Budget talks to avoid a wide-ranging state government shutdown have resumed in Minnesota.
Most of state government will close at midnight if Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican legislative leaders fail to agree on a budget or at least a temporary spending measure.
Top GOP lawmakers left Dayton's office through a side door late Thursday morning after a meeting that lasted about an hour and 15 minutes. They resumed talks around midday.
The two sides are split on whether tax increases should be used to resolve a $5 billion deficit.
The shutdown threatens to shutter state parks on the brink of a holiday weekend and furlough thousands of state workers.
© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.