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| REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS PROMOTE BALANCED, COMPROMISE BUDGET Legislators adjourn 2011 session and travel the state to encourage Governor to sign the bills | ||||||||||||
(St. Paul) - The Minnesota Senate adjourned the 2011 legislative session at midnight on Monday with nine FY2012-13 budget bills on Governor Dayton’s desk awaiting his signature. With no signatures and no vetoes, the Governor failed to act, and now the legislature is forced to convene a special session.
Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch (R-Buffalo), Speaker of the House Kurt Zellers (R-Maple Grove), Senate Deputy Majority Leader Geoff Michel (R-Edina) and House Majority Leader Matt Dean (R-Dellwood) travel around the state to promote their complete, balanced budget and encourage Governor Dayton to sign the bills into law.
Having compromised on greater spending targets as a result of the February economic forecast, Senate Republicans balanced the state budget deficit with available revenues and without raising taxes.
“We came here in January, determined to balance the state’s budget deficit by living within our means and without raising taxes,” said Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch. “We came here to put a stop to the out-of-control government spending that is crippling our economy. Unfortunately, Governor Dayton chose to reject our balanced, compromise budget plan and force a special session.”
Fiscal Year spending for 2010-11 was approximately $32.2 billion. For Fiscal Year 2012-13, Governor Dayton called for a budget of $35.8 billion. The Republican-controlled legislature maintained that they compromised on an amended spending limit of $34 billion, which amounts to the largest General Fund budget in Minnesota State history.
Speaker of the House Kurt Zellers stated, “The Republican budget spends what is the state's checkbook, resolves the 5 billion budget deficit, increases state spending by 6 percent and reforms a status quo state government. We urge Governor Dayton to sign our complete and balanced budget.”
“We are disappointed that Gov. Dayton is going to force the legislature into overtime for more spending and more taxes,” said Deputy Majority Leader Geoff Michel (R-Edina). “The budget bills on Gov. Dayton’s desk put the brakes on automatic increases in spending and send a positive message to businesses, investors and job creators that state government will not tax you into another state.”
“We set priorities. We cut spending. We reformed government. We balanced the budget. We completed our work. Governor Dayton has a balanced budget on his desk. It is very unfortunate he refused to engage in our budget process earlier in session,” commented House Majority Leader Matt Dean.
The Republican budget bills await further action by the Governor.
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