Special session talks continue, but Pawlenty keeps high bar

(AP) - There's still hope for local government leaders and others who want to see the Legislature return to St. Paul for a summer special session.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who has sole power to summon lawmakers back, kept the possibility in play Wednesday.

"It's not something I'm inclined to do. But we are having informal discussions with legislative leaders and individual legislators about the possibility of that occurring and we'll just see where that leads," Pawlenty told reporters as he emerged from a breakfast meeting with Michael Wilson, Canada's ambassador to the United States.

He stressed he would insist upon a one-day session to pass mutually agreed upon bills as part of a "modest, limited, focused agenda."

Mayors, city council members and other local leaders have been the most vocal in their calls for a special session.

They want legislators to re-approve tens of millions of dollars in local aid that got ensnared by a veto of a broader tax bill. It contained a budget accounting provision that Pawlenty opposed.

Other possible items include additional money for nursing homes, a ballot measure earmarking money for natural resources and cultural programs, and a yet-to-be-devised road funding bill.

Pawlenty said he expects to know in the next few weeks if the preliminary discussions are bearing fruit. He said he doesn't want the special session speculation to drag on endlessly.

The next regular session begins in February 2008.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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