Minnesota Republicans Tout Spending Plan

Minnesota Republicans introduced their spending plan Thursday for the next two-year budget cycle that focuses on spending cuts, and no new taxes, the Pioneer Press reported Friday.

Senate and House GOP majority leaders proposed a $34 billion budget, which is about $3 billion less than the spending plan presented earlier by the Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton.

"People need to understand this is the beginning of the conversation,'' Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, a Buffalo Republican, said at a news conference.

The state faces a $5 billion budget shortfall. Dayton has proposed a mix of spending cuts and new taxes on the wealthiest to bridge that gap. Republicans, however, are pushing for deeper spending cuts.

"With these targets, we are confirming that we are going to live within our means,'' said Deputy Senate Majority Leader Geoff Michel, a Republican from Edina.

Both the House and Senate have two weeks to work on the budget details. Then there’s a two month window to finalize the spending plan.