Tribune staff reports

Taking a step toward completing this year’s budget task, the Minnesota Senate approved two bills March 23 to eliminate a majority of the state’s $466 million budget deficit without increasing income or sales taxes.

&uot;This move will eliminate much of the budget shortfall and ensure that basic services are provided to Minnesotans,&uot; said Sen. Dan Sparks, DFL-Austin. &uot;This is a fiscally responsible move that cuts spending and puts the legislature on track to finish its work.&uot;

The package contains two bills that are based on the Governor’s recommendations to fill the gap in the state’s budget. The budget picks up on the Governor’s suggestion to cut 3 percent from most state agencies but rejects his cuts to health care. The tax bill extends taxes on alcohol and rental cars that were scheduled to end, and provides $258 million with other tax adjustments.

&uot;The state’s budget is much like a family’s budget,&uot; said Sparks. &uot;It’s not responsibly to start spending on new things until you’ve paid off old debts. These bills take care of the state’s immediate debt, which allows us to move forward with the task of funding education, health care, transportation and public safety for the next two years.&uot;

Many Senators expected to gain Republican support in this attempt to follow the Governor’s proposals, but Republican Senators voted unanimously against the plan.

Filling the budget gap will allow the government to continue functioning even if legislators can’t reach agreement on other issues by the end of session on May 23, although Sparks said Senate Democrats are committed to completing their work.

&uot;We will not adjourn this session without making the needed investments in core areas such as education and health care,&uot; Sparks said. &uot;Filling the budget gap means one major task is off our plate. But the public is demanding we improve this state, and we will not go home until we’ve made a strong effort to do so.

&uot;Voters sent the message they want us to get our work done,&uot; Sparks said. &uot;Passing these bills fulfills one of the major responsibilities of the 2005 session and paves the way for us to focus on the remaining priorities – education, health care and jobs.&uot;