Session Over, Budget Battle Between Pawlenty, DFL Continues

The 2008 legislative session is over, but the budget is still not balanced. While most people were sleeping around the state, there was a lot of activity at the state capitol late Monday night and early Tuesday morning.

In a last minute rush, the DFL pushed through a new tax bill in the face of strong republican protest.

The bill, similar to one vetoed last week by the governor, would balance the budget through education shifts and tax increases on alcohol, the wealthy and credit card companies. This bill, like the last one, will meet veto on arrival.

"I’m not going to rehash the DFL failures of this session, they speak for themselves," said Governor Tim Pawlenty.

Tuesday, Pawlenty laid out his plans for un-allotment, in which he will balance the budget by making nearly $3 billion in cuts on his own.

Most of the cuts will hit health care, welfare programs, higher education and local government aid.

"We will not drag this out, but we will undertake this decision in a quick, careful, thoughtful manner."

Democrats hoped it wouldn't come to this.

Before touring the state to talk about the session, they shared disappointment over negotiations with Pawlenty.

"Ultimately, what it boiled down to was he gave us two choices. We could do it his way, or he could do it his way. We thought the third way was the way to go," said Assistant Majority Leader Senator Tarryl Clark.

In going his own way, Pawlenty will now expand the use of un-allotment beyond what the state has ever seen.

"Governor Pawlenty has rewritten the rules of a governor’s power, moving into an imperial form of government in Minnesota," said University of Minnesota Professor Larry Jacobs. Professor Jacobs believes the governor may even face lawsuits from hospitals or local governments over the constitutionality of how un-allotment is being used.

Pawlenty will meet with his cabinet Thursday to discuss options.

He says he does want public input, and plans to work with the DFL during this process. Un-allotment officially begins July 1.