Minnesota House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher says the Legislature shouldn't need a special session and can finish its seemingly interminable work by the May 18 deadline, says the Pioneer Press blog The Political Animal.

Speaking at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute today, the speaker said: "I think we can make it."

After Tuesday's state revenue forecast, Gov. Tim Pawlenty will need time to redo his budget request.

Kelliher said the DFL legislative majorities would complete their budget plan by the first week in April.

But Senate Minority David Senjem, R-Rochester, grumbled that lawmakers are 40 percent of the way through the session, and "we have done everything except do something."