Matt Entenza Statement on Revised Budget Forecast

ST. PAUL, Minn.  In response to the news that Minnesota's short-term budget situation is better than expected, the long-term situation is worse, and that unemployment has declined only very slightly, Matt Entenza has issued the following statement:

"Essentially, it remains crystal clear that in order to have the funds needed to keep Minnesota moving, we need a plan to get more Minnesotans working. Tim Pawlenty and the GOP have no plan. Rather than make politically difficult but important decisions for Minnesota's future, they run a shell-game strategy in which they happily claim federal money they don't even have while bashing the federal recovery plan that would be the source of those funds.

"The shell games need to stop. It's time to face our challenges and create opportunities for Minnesota to thrive in the future."

On Feb. 22, a bipartisan group of 42 governors sent a letter urging U.S. House and Senate leaders to extend for at least six months the enhanced federal match for Medicaid included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. (View the letter here: http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.d48f170fad5788d18a278110501010a0/?vgnextoid=ce7d98467a7f6210VgnVCM1000005e00100aRCRD&vgnextchannel=70ad6eb58fda0010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextfmt=print)

Tim Pawlenty did not sign this letter. However, on Feb. 15, when Gov. Pawlenty unveiled his state budget proposal, he counted on these funds to balance the budget.

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