Downey: Budget Negotiation 'Context is Very Different'

In the fallout of he is now willing to accept—with conditions—the June 30 budget proposal from GOP Legislators, many are left wondering if the government shutdown has finally come to an end.

According to State Rep. Keith Downey (R-Edina), Dayton's move was little more than the governor showing he's "back in the game again."

"After posturing for a couple of weeks, we finally got back to where we were back on June 30," Downey said.

While Downey said it was a good sign that the shutdown could be coming to a close, he said the context of the negotiations are now completely different.

"That was a stretch offer from the Legislature in the context of averting a shutdown," Downey said. "Fourteen days into the shutdown, that context is very different. To think that somehow what was possible on the night of June 30 is instantly possible today isn't realistic."

Dayton said Thursday he has been "listening carefully to people throughout Minnesota" over the past couple of weeks, with the overwhelming sentiment that they "want this budget dispute resolved."

"While they strongly prefer my proposed solution to that of the Republican Legislature … they want this government shutdown to end," Dayton said. "Now."

When an agreement is finally reached, Downey said he's confident legislators will be able to get bills ready to go within three days. Whether the two sides will finally come to an agreement today is hard to say, as he does not believe Dayton's current offer is "something we'd accept."

"I take this as a good sign that he's finally ready to begin serious negotiations," he said. "It's a good starting point for this next phase."