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| Date: | June 8, 2011 | | Contact Name: | Susan Closmore | | Contact Phone: | 651-296-5712 | | Contact Email: | susan.closmore@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
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| Senator Gazelka & GOP Leadership Offer Budget Compromise to Prevent Shutdown |
(St. Paul) – Senate and House Republican Leadership met with Governor Mark Dayton Monday to offer a new budget compromise to prevent a government shutdown. The new proposal offers a 100 percent match with Governor Dayton’s funding requests for Education, Public Safety and Judiciary. Specifically, the offer increases Education funding by $80 million on top of the previously proposed $465 million increase in K-12 funding. It also increases the Public Safety and Judiciary budget by $30 million. Senator Paul Gazelka (R-Brainerd) gave the following statement on the new budget compromise offer:
“Education, Public Safety and Judiciary budgets make up nearly 50 percent of state general fund spending. The new budget compromise that we offered Governor Dayton is a reflection of our commitment to our children’s education and our communities’ safety,” said Senator Gazelka. “Immediately after session ended, Governor Dayton vetoed our complete budget that included critical reforms and increased spending in areas like Education, Judiciary and Public Safety. Our latest compromise offer is a second chance for Governor Dayton to put kids, cops and courts first – while still living within our means and without raising new taxes. I’m optimistic, I don’t think the Governor will shutdown the government to increase taxes on hardworking Minnesotans.”
The Senate GOP Majority will continue to negotiate all other budget bills as outlined in the agreed upon time frame. This schedule includes a tentatively planned Special Session for Monday, June 27th through Wednesday, June 29th.
