Politics & Government
Thissen: "No More Excuses"
Now that the state knows the deficit sits just over $5 billion, a $1.2 billion reduction, House Minority Leader Paul Thissen called on Republicans Monday to release their budget targets so public debate can begin.
"No more excuses," Thissen started out the press conference after the state received an updated forecast that sliced $1.2 billion from the expected state budget deficit. "Beginning now, the clock is ticking for the GOP to release their property tax-raising, all-cuts budget."
The expected shortfall still stands at just over $5 billion, which Democrats propose to pay down through a blend of cuts and tax increases on the very wealthy. Most legislative Republicans have signed a no new taxes pledge.
Thissen said Republicans want to continue "Pawlenty budgeting," referring to the former Republican governor's approach to holding down income taxes at what Democrats say is the cost of property tax and tuition increases to the middle class.
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Republicans have set March 25 as the deadline to act on major appropriations or finance bills, although there are a number of loopholes that the majority can use to hear bills after the deadline.
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