Democratic plans for Minn. budget start emerging

In bits and pieces, legislative Democrats are beginning to lay out their plans for attacking Minnesota's nearly $1 billion budget deficit.

Senate leaders say they will try to solve the problem in chunks, starting with bills that slice $200 million in spending, a fourth of which would come out of higher education. Courts, the state transportation department and agriculture programs would also take hits.

House Democrats say they'll issue budget targets early in the week.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty has his own plan on the table, based largely on spending cuts but also on hoped-for increases in Minnesota-bound federal money.

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