Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

Published - Monday, May 12, 2008

Governor and legislative leaders resume budget negotiations

By The Associated Press

ST. PAUL (AP) — Gov. Tim Pawlenty has resumed budget negotiations with legislative leaders.

A spokesman for the governor says the talks began at 5:15 p.m.

Job one is to patch an anticipated 935 million dollar budget deficit. Lawmakers are intent on avoiding cuts to schools, nursing homes and local governments.

The Legislature and Pawlenty are sorting out the amount to subtract from public college budgets, state court accounts, government-run health programs for the poor and rainy day reserves. They’re also trying to change the way health care — for publicly and privately insured patients — is paid for and delivered.

Legislative leaders say they and the governor have signed off on at least 200 million dollars in spending cuts and are searching for 150 million more.

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