Gov. Mark Dayton dismissed the House Republicans' plan to cut taxes $2 billion, calling it a "non starter" and not worthy of negotiation.

He criticized the plan for offering small, temporary tax breaks for the middle class while extending permanent breaks to wealthy families with estates and businesses.

Dayton, looking weary as the Legislature moves toward its final weeks with both sides far apart on crucial budget bills, also criticized the Republican plan for its long term costs. He said Revenue Department analysis showed that once fully phased in, the Republican plan would cost $4 billion, turning the current $1.8 billion projected surplus into deficit.

"To put us on that ledge where the first ill wind could push us over into another decade of the experience that we just done with a couple years ago, with chronic deficits, is just unacceptale," he said.

Asked what olive branch he would give to Republicans, Dayton said he didn't want to negotiate in public.

Moments later, however, he acknowledged the long term fiscal risks of his own universal prekindergarten plan and said he would take money from his spending proposals and put it in state reserves, matching dollar-for-dollar all money Republicans take from their tax plan and put in reserve.