Pawlenty’s opening budget offer takes less from health fund

"MN Budget"

04/21/2008

April 21, 2008


St. Paul (AP) — Gov. Tim Pawlenty has offered to use less of a health care fund that Democrats want to protect for health care policy changes.

The Republican governor made the opening offer in budget talks with lawmakers who are negotiating to fix the state's $935 million deficit. Pawlenty now proposes taking $125 million from a dedicated health care account. That's down from his original proposal of $250 million.

His offer would also include unspecified budget cuts totaling $125 million.

Assistant Senate Majority Leader Tarryl Clark, DFL-St. Cloud, said Pawlenty's offer is a step forward. But she said Democrats still don't want to use the fund as part of a budget-balancing solution.