Minnesota Lawyer
Sen. Mike Parry (staff photo: Peter Bartz-Gallagher)
The Senate passed the state government omnibus budget bill on Wednesday as they work through a slew of conference reports this week.
After more than five hours of debate, the bill authored by GOP Sen. Mike Parry passed with a 37-29 party-line vote. The bill spends about $600 million on state government over the next two years, which amounts to a nearly 35 percent cut. The bill also calls for a 15 percent state workforce reduction by 2015.
Democrats made attempts to stall and derail the bill. St. Paul DFL Sen. Sandy Pappas, addressing what she said was a cut to the Science Museum of Minnesota, started listing dinosaurs, exhibits and reading the biography of King Tut on the floor while GOPers repeatedly called for a point of order.
DFL Sen. Tom Bakk also tried to refer the report back to committee, a motion that failed 30-36.
The Senate passed the jobs and public safety omnibus budget bills Tuesday evening.
