Minnesota Legislature: Nine days and counting...

Here's a round-up of where things stand on the major issues:

Until last week, legislators had succeeded in paring the projected deficit down to $536 million. Then a state Supreme Court ruling against cuts Gov. Tim Pawlenty imposed last summer sent the deficit soaring to $3 billion. Now legislators and the governor's staff are trying to patch together a budget-balancing plan in the closing days of session. If they fail, the governor could call a special session.

On Saturday, a Senate panel approved a $400 million tax increase as part of a package of proposed cuts to help balance the budget. No specific tax increases were made public on Saturday, but options may include a sales tax on clothing, higher income taxes for the wealthy and higher cigarette and alcohol taxes.

Though he vetoed $314 million in public works, Pawlenty has left the door open to approve more construction projects. A coalition of city, county, labor and conservation officials will press their case for more spending Monday, including a proposal to buy land for outdoor sports and conservation. A $686 million package of public works construction for universities, bridges and other projects was approved earlier this year.

No one has proposed major cuts to schools -- yet. Still up in the air is how easy it should be for non-teachers to enter the teaching profession -- which has turned into a major point of contention -- and whether the state should be forced by law to pay the estimated $1.7 billion in school funding it has delayed in order to help balance the budget.

Negotiators have agreed on expanding Medicaid to cover very poor childless adults and delaying the governor's proposed shutdown of some mental health facilities.

But Pawlenty has proposed still deeper cuts. Legislators say they're willing to make some reductions, but want to raise some fees and reorganize spending to bring in matching federal dollars. Floor votes on a compromise funding bill could come Tuesday.

Legislative panels are pushing to require corporations to disclose how much money they spend buying ads to support or oppose state and local candidates. The proposals grow out of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that clears the way for such spending in federal races. A U.S. District Court ruling Friday striking down a state law banning corporate ads in state races will become a major factor in the debate.

Just two days after the proposal was unveiled, a House panel last week torpedoed a hurried plan to use public subsidies to build a $791 million stadium for the Vikings. Though anything could still happen, most believe the always-controversial stadium debate is effectively over this year.

A bid to install slot machines at two Twin Cities horse racing tracks and use the profits for a variety of public purposes never picked up speed. Proposals stalled in the Legislature and Pawlenty has shown no support. Senator-turned-racino lobbyist Dick Day (right), hopes that efforts to close the state budget gap will force politicians to eventually turn to gambling. The odds are long.