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Tim Pugmire
St. Paul, Minn.

DFLers pledge to hold GOP majority accountable

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The newly selected leaders of the DFL minorities in the Minnesota House and Senate are pledging to hold the Republican majority accountable in the 2011 budget session.

Republicans will control both chambers for the first time when lawmakers return to the Capitol in January. They'll also have to solve a state budget deficit that's currently projected at $5.8 billion.

During a news conference Friday, DFL House Minority Leader Paul Thissen of Minneapolis said when Republicans unveil their budget-balancing plans, he'll be there to point out the consequences.

"If you are going to be talking about rolling back regulations, that's good and we'll work with you," he said. "But if it means that we're going to polluting our drinking water, we're going to call you on those facts. If it means that you are going to be cutting our funding to schools in ways that is going to make our class sizes balloon to 35 per class, we're going to call you on that."

DFL Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk of Cook said his goals include dispelling the myth that no new revenue is needed to balance the state budget.