UPDATE: DONE DEAL AS FRAMEWORK ENDS MINNESOTA SHUTDOWN

UPDATE (July 14, 5:35 p.m.): Gov. Mark Dayton, Rep. Kurt Zellers and Sen. Amy Koch have announced there is a "framework" in place to end the state government shutdown.

The two sides, which have been at odds since June 30 talks broke down, appeared together. 

"Minnesotans won today," Dayton said, adding that neither the GOP nor the DFL should claim victory with the end of the stalemate. 

UPDATE (July 14, 1 p.m.): Sen Amy Koch (R-Buffalo) and Rep. Kurt Zellers, along with other members of the GOP and DLF leadership teams, will meat with Dayton at 2 p.m. today. 

A note: even if the two sides walk from the table with an agreement in hand, that agreement would still need ratification via a vote by the entire Legislature. 

If that's defeated, the shutdown could linger. 

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Gov. Mark Dayton has reached out to Republican leadership in the Minnesota Senate and House with an offer to come to terms on ending the state government shutdown. 

Dayton has “reluctantly" agreed to the last Republican budget offer made on June 30 with conditions—a move that could end the state shutdown if Republicans agree.

That offer generates $700 million dollars through further school aid shifts, and issues $700 million in “tobacco bonds” to cover the rest of the $1.4 billion gap between the governor and state Republicans.

The governor sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch and Speaker of the House Kurt Zellers on Thursday that said that while he doesn't necessarily agree with the method of resolving the budget impasse, he does think it's necessary to end the shutdown as soon as possible.

"I am willing to agree to something I do not agree with—your proposal—to spare our citizens and our state from further damage," Dayton wrote.

However, Dayton added three conditions to his agreement that will ultimately determine if the shutdown ends.

First, he said Republicans must abide by their public statements that they will take all policy issues off the table at this time. Second, they must drop a 15 percent, across-the-board reduction to employees in all agencies, regardless of their funding source. Third, that after all the budget issues have been resolved in a special session, Republicans must support and pass a bonding bill of at least $500 million next session.

If Republicans agree to Dayton's conditions, a special session to pass a budget—and end the state shutdown—could begin within three days.

Dayton today, July 14, spoke before alumni at the University of Minnesota’s Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs.

Echoing the sentiments of several in the crowd, Larry Jacobs, center director of politics at the Humphrey Institute, asked Dayton: “We’re two weeks into a government shutdown. You’re now willing to accept a deal that would have prevented the shutdown altogether. Are you now capitulating to GOP demands?”

Dayton’s response: “In my 36 years of government I’ve never seen intractability and unwillingness to compromise be used as a strength. When you’re negotiating with a position that is intractable, you cannot negotiate. I’m disappointed that we can’t do it better but there is still time for Republicans to make it better.”  

Dayton reiterated that his decision to accept the GOP proposal, while he does not agree with it, was made by striving for the moral high ground.

“I believe this is the right thing to do. More and more Minnesotans want (the shutdown) over,” he said. “They need it over. I did what I thought was in the best interest of the people of this state. In the real world, for the foreseeable future, this is what would end the shutdown.”

Minnesota Public Radio has a recording of Dayton's latest media briefing here, which announces on the offer.  

Video, courtesy of our friends at The Uptake, can also be watched here. 

St. Michael Patch will have updates and reaction from local legislators when they become available. 

A copy of Dayton's letter is attached to this article.