After an agreement on a budget compromise was reached between the Minnesota Legislature and Governor Pawlenty late Sunday night, a special session was called for the house and senate to pass the bills today. The legislature then adjourned and sent the bill onto the governor. The measure fills a 3 billion dollar hole in the state's budget without raising taxes. Duluth Representative Roger Reinert says the session was among the most difficult in state history and, in the end, not everybody got what they wanted. Reinert says besides cutting numerous state programs, the solution included a 1.9 billion dollar school aid payment delay. While the bill addresses the immediate problems, Reinert says the next legislature and governor will "have their work cut out for them" in dealing with yet another huge budget deficit next year.
