The Minnesota Legislature’s 2009 session ended at three minutes after midnight early Tuesday after lawmakers spent a raucous final half hour debating a tax bill that Gov. Tim Pawlenty was expected to veto.

The DFL-controlled House passed the bill 82-47 just eight minutes before the mandatory midnight deadline. The Senate, also controlled by Democrats, voted 35-1 to approve the measure before adjourning a few minutes late. Republicans objected loudly to the rushed votes.

“I really just was handed a copy,” said Sen. Michelle Fischbach, R-Paynesville. “There’s only a few minutes left.”

Down the hall, Democratic House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher presided sternly over yells of protest from Republians who tried to slow things down.

The bill would close a $2.7 billion budget gap by delaying payments to schools and increasing taxes on couples who make more than $250,000 a year, alcohol drinkers and some credit card companies. It was similar to the bill Pawlenty vetoed days ago.

Pawlenty spokesman Brian McClung said the goveror planned veto the latest version, and Pawlenty has vowed not to call a special session to complete budget work. Instead, he is preparing to unilaterally erase a multibillion-dollar deficit using emergency power to cancel spending and delay payments beginning July 1.

McClung said Pawlenty planned to meet Tuesday with his advisers to begin the process, called unallotment.

Democrats held out hope that Pawlenty would change his mind about the tax bill. With it, they said their budget was balanced, though it won’t be if Pawlenty rejects the taxes.

“It’s the governor’s choice now,” said Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis.

Earlier in the day, a last meeting between top DFLers and Pawlenty yielded no agreement. Top Democrats said the GOP governor rejected every possible tax increase they put before him. They ruled out a $1 billion borrowing plan he proposed, using future tobacco lawsuit settlement payments as collateral.

The shortfall is $4.6 billion over two years, or $6.4 billion not counting federal stimulus dollars. The Democratic-controlled Legislature failed in a push to override two vetoes on Sunday, including a $1 billion tax plan.

The lack of resolution could lead to higher property taxes if cities and counties lose state aid, budget acrobatics for schools if state payments come later, and an uncertain future for those who use state programs for everything from hospital stays to dental coverage.

While the budget talks bogged down, several policy bills steamed ahead.

Legislation for medical use of marijuana cleared the Minnesota House 70-64, after it was tightened to apply only to terminally ill patients with severe symptoms. That’s stricter than the version that cleared the Senate, which accepted the change and repassed the bill 38-28.

Pawlenty has opposed the legislation, saying he agrees with law enforcement concerns about expanded drug use.