GOP revives cuts to commissioner pay, campaign subsidies

Published 9:24 am Friday, April 15, 2016

ST. PAUL — House Republicans are reviving some controversial measures to trim the costs of state government.

A state agency funding budget released Thursday aims to suspend a public campaign subsidy program furnished by income tax check-offs as the November election approaches. It also would cut agency commissioner salaries by 5 percent for the next three years.

It’s a second act in last year’s budget-setting drama that stirred up trouble. A dispute over Gov. Mark Dayton’s move to increase commissioner pay lasted months. And Democrats rejected a GOP-led move to axe the public campaign subsidies.

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Those cuts allow House Republicans to make some spending increases on education and Internet development while devoting a $900 million surplus to tax relief and a transportation package.