Private budget talks between Pawlenty and top lawmakers ongoing.

Pawlenty, top lawmakers continue budget talks

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Budget talks continue between top lawmakers and Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

The talks went on well into Friday evening after the Democratic-led House soundly rejected the Republican governor’s 2009 budget cuts that were at issue in court ruling this week.

The governor still holds out hope lawmakers eventually will ratify last year’s cuts made through a power known as unallotment, which included $1.8 billion in delayed school aid checks.

But Democratic leaders gave little indication they’ll simply sign off on the cuts.

Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller called the situation the result of “several years of inattentiveness” by Pawlenty, who has long resisted tax increases and last year vetoed a Democratic plan that would have included one.