May 17, 2009 11:33 pm US/Central
DFL Fails To Override Pawlenty's Tax Bill Veto
ST. PAUL (AP) ―
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Pawlenty sought deeper spending cuts to colleges, local governments and health care while Democrats held out for new, ongoing revenue to patch part of the gap. (File)
Minnesota Senate Media Services Office
Majority Democrats have failed to override Gov. Tim Pawlenty's veto of a $1 billion tax plan.
The Minnesota House lacked the needed 90 votes to reverse the veto. Sunday's vote was 85 to 49.
The bill would have raised taxes on alcohol, some credit card companies and families making more than $250,000. That tax money would have been earmarked for education, health care and nursing homes.
It was the second failure of an override attempt by Democrats. Earlier Sunday, they couldn't undo Pawlenty's veto of funding for a state-subsidized health program.
Pawlenty and Democrats could still strike a budget deal before the Legislature adjourns at midnight Monday. But if they don't, the GOP governor says he'll balance it on his own.
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Lawmakers managed to narrowly avoid a special session drafting the budget last year.

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