As the shutdown continues, it seems that budget negotiations between the GOP House leader Kurt Zeller, GOP Senate leader Amy Koch, and DFL Governor Mark Dayton continue to deteriorate. While past debates between the two sides were marked by the Republican assertion that any increase in taxes would be a "non-starter," the GOP has upped the tension by stating that any attempt by Dayton to speak would be a "non-starter" as well.
Dayton, disappointed by this turn of events, responded that "we had already taken a step back in progress, but this is like taking five more steps back. And we had only gone two steps forward to begin with. We're not even on the Earth anymore."
Dayton has already sent a counteroffer to the Republicans, offering to use typed letters, sign language, or a series of pictures to help move the process forward.
Rumors coming from cone-of-silence talks between the two parties indicated that the GOP may be willing to allow Dayton to communicate with them through a series of other people performing sign language for him. However, Koch and Zellers stated in a press conference today that any type of speech, whether it's written, drawn, signed, or done through another is a non-starter.
Dayton is reportedly hopeful that the GOP will change its attitude as the shutdown continues, but he states that his optimism is, "non-started."
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