Apparently the DFL made a mistake. �They sent all their spending bills piecemeal to the governor, for which he thanks them. �If they don't want to establish any new revenue he likes, fine.

Turning the heat up to a boil in the closing days of the legislative session, Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty said today that he would use his powers of line-item veto and unallotment to balance a state budget facing a $4.6 billion deficit.

Pledging there would be no government shutdown or special legislative session, Pawlenty said that every bill sent to him by the DFL-controlled Legislature would be subject to his surgical veto pen, likely beginning with a massive Health and Human Services bill awaiting his signature.

"There is a key principle at stake here. You can't spend more than you have. The DFL-majority just did that," said Pawlenty, flanked by Republican legislators at a Capitol news conference. "In these economic times, the people of Minnesota want to see decisive action. We're going to take action to make sure this session ends on time with a balanced budget."

When the legislature sends an instant tax bill they know he would veto, and when they refuse a compromise offer, the DFL doesn't turn the heat up to a boil"; only when the Governor uses his Constitutional powers to balance a budget they won't does the water bubble: It's not just the balance sheet that's bankrupt at the STrib.

Labels: DFL legislature, Pawlenty