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Gov., Leaders Meet To Start Talking Budget

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Dec 5, 2008 7:40 am US/Central

Gov., Leaders Meet To Start Talking Budget

ST. PAUL (AP) ― Gov. Tim Pawlenty and legislative leaders meet over breakfast this morning to start looking at ways to dig out of Minnesota's more than $5 billion deficit.

State leaders announced the deficit Thursday at a news conference. They describe the underlying economic conditions as the worst in 25 years and possibly dating to World War II.

Pawlenty has ordered most state agencies to show him how they could shave 10 percent of spending -- not including prisons, state troopers, crime labs or military programs. He also notified legislators he may cut spending on his own to tackle the shortage in the current budget, as state law allows.

The Republican governor repeated his longstanding opposition to raising taxes.

Democrats who control the Legislature said they'll scour the budget for cuts, but unlike Pawlenty wouldn't rule out raising taxes.

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