Budget War - Governor Pawlenty
Budget War - Governor Pawlenty has started his effort to re-balance the state budget yesterday, according to the Strib:
Once Pawlenty unveils his proposals, he still will need the Legislature to take exceptionally quick action, passing the package in a matter of two to three weeks. Though legislative leaders have pledged their cooperation, fights over the size and scope of the cuts are bound to emerge in both the Republican-dominated House and the Senate, where DFLers hold a slim majority.
Once can also argue that, despite the November '02 election, the fiscal left still control the legislature. Many Republicans in both houses are moderates who'll vote for expedience - and higher taxes. Pawlenty himself is a fairly newly-minted conservative on these issues. Here's hoping he stays the course.
Pawlenty has said he wants action on his recommendations by early February; otherwise, he may resort to cutting the budget himself. By law, the governor has the authority to cut the budget whenever an economic forecast projects a deficit for the current fiscal period. Known as "unallotment," it would allow Pawlenty to bypass the normal legislative process and simply cut wherever he saw fit.
And while my record of predictions (last November notwithstanding) is dicey at best, I'll bet that's what it comes to. I suspect the DFL will want Pawlenty to take the heat for the budget cuts, and whatever pain they cause. This could be dangerous for the DFL, though; successful cuts and a rebounding economy could conceivably hand Pawlenty a second "Minnesota Miracle", a la Reagan in 1982.
The Legislature's track record on quick budget action has not been great. The state's fiscal crisis is as severe as it is in part because legislative leaders failed to enact long-range cuts in the last budget session.
The Strib is being too charitable, and doesn't explain that the legislature got into this mess by turning "one-time" expenditures from tax surpluses into permanent spending. With more GOP control in the leglislature, hopefully those days are behind us.
Posted by Mitch at
January 14, 2003 06:37 AM
