Dayton calls special session to break shutdown

Gov. Mark Dayton called a special session to break the nearly 3-week old state government shutdown in an announcement and proclamation on Tuesday morning. Dayton and legislative leaders agreed to the session on the condition that the only votes that would be taken would be on budget bills negotiated between the parties and no amendments would be offered. Legislators would have time to debate, however.

Six of the bills to be debated in the special session have been posted for public inspection.

The special session agreement, signed by Gov. Dayton, House Speaker Kurt Zellers, Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, House Minority Leader Paul Thissen and Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk, promises a suspension of the rules in both chambers, no amendments to the bills and no other bills may be considered.

The special session begins at 3 pm on Tuesday.

Here’s Dayton’s proclamation:
20110719110214725