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State Representative Michael Beard
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-8872
For more information contact: Jodi Boyne 651-296-0640
NEWS RELEASE
REP. BEARD CALLS BUDGET PROPOSAL “FAIR AND RESPONSIBLE”
ST. PAUL – State Representative Mike Beard, R-Shakopee, today called Governor Pawlenty’s recent budget proposal “fair and responsible,” and said he supports the governor’s commitment to education and controlling health care costs.
“Governor Pawlenty put forth a balanced proposal,” Rep. Beard said. “Nearly $30 billion should be enough to fund state government for two years.”
The governor’s plan calls for $29.6 billion in state spending during the 2006-2007 biennium, a 5.8 percent increase over current budget levels. Much of Pawlenty’s proposed spending increases go to education spending, $601 million for K-12 and higher education, and government health care, $656 million.
“More education spending has broad, bipartisan support,” Rep. Beard said. “We’ll also be tying some of that increase to greater accountability, especially in the form of performance pay,” Rep. Beard added. The governor also proposed to boost higher education funding by more than eight percent, including $36 million to fund the University of Minnesota Bioscience Initiative.
When state economists unveiled their budget forecast in December, they cited rising government health care costs as the major factor in creating a $700 million deficit. Pawlenty’s proposal slows so-called medical welfare spending by protecting the state’s core public health functions while freezing or limiting growth in non-core areas.
“Controlling health care costs will be a long-term task. We will continue to empower consumers with decisions while using government to take care of Minnesota’s most vulnerable citizens,” Rep. Beard said.
The next chapter in this year’s budget negotiations comes in February when state economists release their February forecast. Legislators will use that forecast to set specific spending levels for the next two years.
The governor’s full budget proposal is available online at www.governor.state.mn.us.
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