Session 2003 Budget and Taxes Business Environment Higher Education K-12 Education Health and Welfare Public Safety Stadium Transportation Photos Gov. Pawlenty gives a pep talk to Minnesota business leaders Cindy Johnson's daughter, Jenna needs 24-hour care John Tschida of the Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Your Voice Join the conversation with other MPR listeners in the News Forum.

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Pawlenty rallies supporters
by Laura McCallum, Minnesota Public Radio
February 21, 2003

Gov. Pawlenty gives a pep talk to Minnesota business leaders, urging them to actively support his no-tax-increase budget plans. (MPR Photo/Laura McCallum)

Gov. Tim Pawlenty began a weekly radio show Friday, and prepared to do battle with critics of his budget proposal. Three days after the release of his budget, Pawlenty is coming under fire from groups affected by his proposed budget cuts. Pawlenty is calling on Minnesotans who support his no-tax-increase pledge to join the debate.

St. Paul, Minn. — Gov. Pawlenty kicked off his radio show by asking listeners to help him come up with a name. Suggestions ranged from "Pawlenty of Talk" to "Faceoff with the Governor."

Pawlenty did face off with St. Paul city council member Jay Benanav, who said Pawlenty's proposed cuts in local government aid would hurt St. Paul.

	John Tschida of the Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities

"The bottom line here is that we are going to be laying off numerous, numerous employees, and ultimately, I'm afraid that we're going to have to lay off firefighters and police officers as well," Benanav said. "Forty-three million dollars coming out of a general fund budget that we have is significantly more than 5 percent."

"Well, Jay, I appreciate that, but here's what I need to say, and will say again to city officials," Pawlenty responded. "The proposal that we have on the table caps the amount of reduction to any city's budget as a result of our state government aid changes to 5 percent of their revenues. If you can't get around a 5 percent reduction without laying off firefighters and cops, then we need to get a new city council in St. Paul."

Pawlenty's proposal would increase the overall state budget by $1 billion, but would cut local government aid by about one-fourth from current spending levels.

Back at the Capitol, critics were calling the governor's proposed budget cuts mean-spirited, and aimed at people who can least afford it. Under the governor's proposal, spending on health and human services programs would increase 8 percent in the next two years. But that's far less than the projected growth in demand for those programs. The governor recommends reduced eligibility and increased co-pays for state-funded health care programs.

	Cindy Johnson's daughter, Jenna needs 24-hour care

John Tschida, co-chair of the Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, says the governor's budget would affect health care, transportation, housing and employment for people with disabilities.

"This is about protecting Minnesota's most vulnerable citizens. We aren't here fighting to protect the Highway Helper program. We're talking about getting people out of bed in the morning," Tschida says.

Several people with disabilities say the governor's budget would make it more difficult for them to live independently, instead of in more costly nursing homes.

Cindy Johnson of St. Paul says her 20-year-old daughter Jenna has multiple disabilities, and needs 24-hour-care to be able to live at home. Johnson says the state has already cut funding that counties use for in-home care for people with developmental disabilities. Jenna Johnson says she works at Target, and wants to continue to live at home.

"Target's my life, and I have friends, and I don't want to quit there. And I need help ... I don't want to go to a hospital or anything, because that's just scaring me right now," Johnson says.

This is going to be a battle for the hearts and minds of Minnesota. And we need folks who are paying the bills, working Minnesotans, to be heard from. - Gov. Tim Pawlenty

Advocates for immigrants also criticized the governor's proposed budget. They say Pawlenty would cut Adult Basic Education and services for legal immigrants. Pawlenty says he understands the groups' concerns, but stands by his proposal.

"We want to be sensitive to that. When you pick up the paper, watch the news every day, and you see people saying, 'You're anti-everything,' it does have an impact on you," Pawlenty says. "But the bottom line is, you gotta take some solace in the fact that Minnesota is so generous in all these categories, that even after these adjustments, we're still going to be probably the most generous state in the nation."

In an appearance before business leaders, Pawlenty told them that as the protests get louder, he's going to need their support if they back his no-tax-increase pledge.

"This is going to be a battle for the hearts and minds of Minnesota. And we need folks who are paying the bills, working Minnesotans, to be heard from," said Pawlenty. "And it's easy for people who are busy, because you got jobs and all these other commitments, to say, 'Well, I don't need to be involved.' We need you involved. And this next 30 or 45-day window is critical."

As the governor's budget moves through the Legislature in the next few weeks, House Republicans say they'll probably make some changes. Speaker Steve Sviggum says the biggest areas of concern are local government aid, nursing home funding and agriculture.

Senate Democrats say they want to hear what the public thinks of Pawlenty's plan before they come up with their own proposal.

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