DFL majority leaders suggests Legislature take time off

The DFL majority leader of the Minnesota Senate is suggesting the Legislature could take some time off later this month until the state budget picture becomes clearer.

Lawmakers are waiting to learn more about Minnesota's share of anticipated federal health care money before they resolve the remaining state budget deficit.

Senator Larry Pogemiller told reporters Friday that he's open to a recess until those budget calculations are figured out.

"I don't think there's a reason to have people sitting around here looking for opportunities to create mischief if we could be doing something productive," Pogemiller said.

Republican Senate Minority Leader David Senjem said he'd prefer using the expected downtime to begin work on next year's projected budget deficit.

Legislators were already planning shorter weeks later this month to accommodate DFL and Republican state political conventions.