NO SPECIAL SESSION, NO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN -- GOVERNOR PAWLENTY SAYS HE WILL BALANCE STATE BUDGET

-Governor outlines plan to use executive action to balance budget, says his preference is to sign into law a negotiated budget agreement --

Saint Paul - At the State Capitol this afternoon, Governor Tim Pawlenty said, "Politics as usual around this place is over. The people of Minnesota expect and deserve timely and decisive action. I will not let the legislature's work spill over into a special session. We are not going to waste taxpayer money with a costly overtime or have a state government shutdown, especially in this economy. My preference would be for DFL legislators to work with me on a reasonable budget solution, but if they can't get that done I will take executive action to balance the budget."

"A key principle is that the DFL-controlled legislature shouldn't spend more money than the state has available," Governor Pawlenty said. "Unfortunately, they have done just that and now I'll fix it."

Thank Governor Pawlenty for taking action and  using his veto pen against raising taxes!