MN GOP Senate leaders eye $2M in operating costs

Republican leaders in the Minnesota Senate will meet this week to discuss ways to trim their own operating budget by more than $2 million, and the cuts will costs some jobs.

"Things like committee pages, things like internships," said the new Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem. "We're going to carve away at our people expenses to the extent we can, and then find out where we are."

Last summer's budget agreement required both chambers of the Minnesota Legislature to reduce spending by 5 percent. In the Senate, that means a $2.1 million cut. Senate Republicans' recent leadership shakeup has delayed action on the cuts, but Senjem says he's working with his team of assistants to find a solution.

DFL Minority leader Tom Bakk says the Senate should impose a hiring freeze and begin consolidating some services with the House.

Full story here: Minn. Senate budget cuts could lead to staff layoffs