Top Republican lawmakers are urging Governor Tim Walz and his administration to start addressing the state’s expected 4.7-billion-dollar budget deficit *now* — not wait until the regular legislation session next January. Senator Michelle Benson from Ham Lake, who chairs the committee that oversees the health and human services budget says, “Except for the Department of Health, everyone should be trying to find a way to reduce expenses long-term going forward, because the decisions get harder the longer you wait.”
Senate Republican Majority Leader Paul Gazelka says the Walz administration should be able to trim spending at least five percent across-the-board. The governor is not immediately available to respond.