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Capitol View®
Tim Pugmire

Pogemiller says it’s time to get real on budget deficit

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Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller, DFL-Minneapolis, says he believes there are going to be cuts in K-12 education funding.

His prediction came this morning during a Senate tax committee review of Gov. Tim Pawlenty's budget proposal. The state is facing a projected $4.8 billion deficit, but Pogemiller isn't buying the Republican governor's solution, which includes the use of one-time money, spending cuts, shifts and borrowing.

"I believe that there is not yet an acceptance of the seriousness of the situation we're in, Pogemiller said. "And I implore members and governors to get real quicker here."

Pogemiller says a structurally-balanced budget would require across the board spending cuts of 13.65 percent. That means a $1.5 billion cut for K-12 education. Gov. Pawlenty spared K-12 education in his budget and proposes increased spending for some school purposes. But Pogemiller says you can't keep

40 percent of the budget off line.

The DFL majority leader asked Pawlenty's commissioner of management and budget, Tom Hanson, to be more realistic when he crafts a supplemental budget after next month's release of the February economic forecast.

"We are in a deteriorating situation, Pogemiller said. It is not in the long term interest of the state to try to do this with bubble gum and act like we're doing something."

Commissioner Hanson defended the governor's budget, saying it provides Minnesotans a cushion in tough economic times. Hanson told committee members that the governor will have a supplemental budget, to reflect the February forecast and an expected larger budget hole. But he warned there will no education cuts or tax increases.