DFL BUDGET GAMES BEGIN

Senator Larry Pogemiller and Senator Dean Johnson have once again shown their true colors by proposing legislative budget gimmicks rather than substantive budget solutions.

The Minnesota Senate is scheduled to vote on the DFL's "proposal" later today.

Below is reaction to their plan.

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"[Governor] Pawlenty's chief of staff, Dan McElroy, said the governor considered the plan 'bizarre' and 'not credible.'" Source: Star Tribune, March 22, 2005

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"What happened today is the beginning of political game-playing...This is probably the foundation for gridlock. The public should be cynical about what's about to happen." Source: Senator Tom Neuville, Star Tribune, March 22, 2005

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"Former Democratic congressman Tim Penny, who was hosting a leadership seminar at the State Capitol on Monday, said he considered the DFL move 'a tactic' that might be less than sincere..." Source: Senator Tom Neuville, Star Tribune, March 22, 2005

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"Even within the Senate DFL caucus, there were reservations about the new approach to budget-planning.

'I'm frustrated that we're just talking about balancing the budget instead of our positive goals of funding education,' said Sen. Steve Kelley, DFL-Hopkins, a majority whip who also leads the Senate Education Committee." Source: Star Tribune, March 22, 2005