But House Minority Leader Marty Seifert said the Democrats plan to tax high-income earners — the state’s “job creators” — with the highest tax rate in the nation will harm the state’s economy.

“You’re either going to have fewer jobs, you’re going to have higher-priced products or they’re going to leave the state,” said Seifert, R-Marshall.

When lawmakers go back to work next week, House Democrats will work to complete their budget bills during the following two weeks. What comes next remains in doubt and could determine whether a budget is agreed to before the Legislature’s May 21 adjournment deadline.

House and Senate leaders will appoint conference committees to negotiate a compromise budget. If Pawlenty’s views aren’t taken into account during the negotiations, the DFL-created budget will almost certainly be vetoed, Seifert predicted.

And Republicans in the House will not allow the vetoes to be overridden, he said.

Pawlenty will be consulted during negotiations, Pogemiller said, but the governor needs to be willing to compromise after years of refusing to consider any state-level tax increases.

“He promised during his re-election run that he’s going to govern differently than he did in his first term,” Pogemiller said. “I take him at his word.”