ST. PAUL — Lawmakers and Gov. Tim Walz are getting down to the most difficult work of the 2019 legislative session.

Leaders of the Democratic-controlled House, the GOP-controlled Senate and the Democratic governor face a self-imposed deadline of Monday to agree on spending caps to help conference committees begin the work of negotiating solutions to the deep differences between the chambers with 2 1/2 weeks left in the session.

The governor brought in health care executives from across Minnesota on Thursday to stress one of his top priorities — preserving an expiring tax that helps fund health care programs. Republicans want to let it die.

Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman said she expects a “very long weekend.”

Republican Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka said it won’t be easy but they’ll get the job done.