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State Representative
Rich Stanek

543 State Office Building, 100 Constitution Ave., St. Paul, MN 55155 (651) 296- 5502

For Immediate ReleaseFor more information contact:
March 30, 2001Jon Peterson (651-296-5989)
NEWS RELEASE
STANEK, HOUSE APPROVE BUDGET TARGETS

(ST. PAUL) In its first step in the budget process, this week the House of Representatives passed with bipartisan support a budget resolution that essentially meets Governor Ventura on the total sum of state spending and tax reductions for the biennium, but which parts company with him on key spending priorities. The budget resolution passed on a 75 to 56 vote, with no DFL amendments offered.

"This budget will allow us to pass significant tax relief for Minnesota families, and it will also give us room to improve on the governor's budget proposal in areas like K-12 education," said Rep. Rich Stanek (R-Maple Grove), who voted for the resolution.

The budget resolution that passed the House sets the total overall amount of spending. The resolution reflects the same level of discretionary spending as the governor's budget proposal $714.5 million (a 5.3 percent increase over the last biennium). Total state spending would be held under $27 billion, and more than $1.5 billion would be used for tax reductions. In the coming weeks, the House Ways and Means Committee sets the target amount each committee has for discretionary spending.

"Just like a family has to hold the line on spending, so must state government," said Rep. Stanek. "The House budget resolution allows us to return 100 percent of the surplus in tax reductions and also to re-prioritize state spending from what the governor recommended to better reflect the priorities of working Minnesotans."

Stanek added that as specific spending targets are developed in the next two weeks, Minnesotans can expect them to re-prioritize spending from what the Governor proposed, with focus on K-12 and higher education, nursing homes and transportation. Specific taxes cuts will be determined by the House Tax Committee.

Rep. Stanek serves District 33B in the House of Representatives. He is the chair of the Judiciary Finance Committee and also serves on the Crime Prevention Committee, the Civil Law Committee and the Ways and Means Committee.

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