Unsurprisingly, none of the public meetings here in Minnesota over the budget deadlock accomplished anything, so now Governor Pawlenty and leaders of the two houses of the legislature are going behind closed doors. Tomorrow could be interesting, as the cigarette health impact whatchamacallit comes up before the House Taxes committee. Tax committees were cancelled for today, so perhaps something is getting done. Alas, it looks like that cigarette tax is still part of the discussion.

Bills to provide for access grants and expansion of the tuition tax credit appear to be making progress in the Legislature as well.