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State Representative Mike Benson
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4378
For more information contact: Jason Wenisch 651-296-2317
NEWS RELEASE
REP. BENSON: BUDGET BALANCING BILLS BEGINNING TO TAKE SHAPE
ST. PAUL – State Representative Mike Benson (R-Rochester) said Minnesota House committees are putting in extra hours in order to craft bills that will help balance the budget and solve Minnesota’s projected $5.1 billion budget deficit.
“When you are forced to eliminate a budget shortfall, you are forced to make difficult choices,” Benson said. “Every lawmaker is mindful of what this means. Our goal is to make sure revenue is there for people who need it, but it’s clear that when dealing with government agencies, we must start new and look to reform.”
Benson points to the committee he co-chairs, State Government Finance, as one committee that is truly trying to change the way government operates for the better. His committee has recently finished work on a comprehensive funding proposal that will not only help balance the budget, but will also significantly reform government.
Some of the proposals included in the State Government Finance proposal include the 15 x 15 Initiative, which would reduce 15 percent of state workforce by 2015 through retirements and attrition; consolidating information technology services; pay for performance; zero-based budgeting principles; and retiring unnecessary or duplicative government operations.
“It would be easy just to limit funding to agencies, but that does not make a lasting impact on future budgets,” Benson said. “There are many areas within government where spending is largely inefficient, and if we can finally recognize this problem and change things, it will improve Minnesota’s economic outlook and help end our cycle of budget deficits.”
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