Minnesota leaders say budget deal signed but MinnesotaCare for undocumented immigrants remains central sticking point

Legislative leaders said they have signed a budget agreement but remain at odds over a Republican demand to extend MinnesotaCare to undocumented immigrants, a provision they described as the linchpin of recent negotiations.

The disagreement means lawmakers expect more negotiating after the scheduled end of the regular session: leaders set a deadline that groups finish outstanding conference work by 5 p.m. Wednesday, and said a special session to complete the budget is increasingly likely later in the week.

“That was unfortunately the linchpin for Republicans in the budget deal,” the Legislative leader said, adding that Republicans “made it very clear that they weren't leaving the session without it, and we couldn't have a budget completed for the state of Minnesota without agreeing to that concession for them.” The leader said Democrats will keep working to “peel that provision out” and to convince Republicans to “look at people as people and not, people as whether…