Senate leaders hope the Spring break lets some people caught up in the MOHELA deadlock cool off, and be more willing to reach a compromise when they come back to the Capitol.
Senate floor leader Charlie Shields says majority Republicans will not take another shot at getting the MOHELA bill passed before leaving for break later this afternoon. Democrats say the Republicans have talked about compromise but they have shown little willingness to meet Democrat demands.
Republicans say the Democrats have failed to negotiate in good faith.
The frustration has spilled over onto Senate floor, where Shields has told Democrats that Republicans have to know who they can negotiate with that can make a deal on behalf of Democrats. Democrat Senator Joan Bray argues true negotiations involve more than sitting down and throwing out ideas.
Shields is demanding Democrats pick a negotiating team. He says the negotiations earlier this week that broke off Tuesday night were not a good-faith effort by Democrats.