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Former governor Carlson criticizes budget cuts
He focused on his wife's fetal alcohol syndrome prevention program.
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Former Gov. Arne Carlson hasn't always agreed with current Gov. Tim Pawlenty on fiscal decisions, and that was the case this week.
Carlson on Thursday criticized the administration's proposed cuts to a fetal alcohol syndrome prevention program that Carlson's wife founded, and he said too many officeholders had become obsessed with "every little zing" and "chess game."
Speaking before a Senate committee, Carlson said the program's funding had decreased from $7 million annually when he left as governor in the late 1990s and would stand at $1.2 million if cuts recommended by Pawlenty were adopted. Pawlenty has recommended eliminating a planned funding increase for the program, and has proposed $187 million in overall cuts to health and human service programs this year.
Carlson did not specifically mention Pawlenty, but his remarks -- particularly criticisms that the fetal alcohol program was absorbing larger cuts than other areas -- seemed aimed at the administration. "If in the current budget this crisis is being met with an average 4 percent cut, why then is one program singled out for a 30 percent cut?" he said.
The former governor, who said he was appearing as his wife's surrogate, said government was ultimately spending more money by cutting prevention programs and then being forced to build more jails. "All we keep doing is shouting for more and more people to go into the system," he said.
Brian McClung, Pawlenty's spokesman, responded in an e-mail: "We do have to do some belt tightening, but we are looking for ways to restore some funding for this worthwhile program," he said.
Carlson also was critical of what some characterize as short-term budget fixes. "This nonsense of Band-Aids and Band-Aids and prayer does not work," he said. "Far too much is focused on, 'Oh Lord, how do I get through the next election?' as opposed to doing that which is right.
"Maybe the time has come for us to get into the business of taking a few days off from passing bills and start discussing some topics that transcend party lines," he added.
In his e-mail, McClung said: "Former Gov. Carlson apparently continues to support tax increases in an already highly taxed state and we disagree with that approach. In fact, Gov. Pawlenty has proposed tax cuts as part of our budget balancing plan."
Mike Kaszuba • 612-673-4388
Current state office holders
Governor: Tim Pawlenty
One of only a few prominent Republicans to win a competitive re-election contest in the Democratic sweep of 2006, Tim Pawlenty is widely seen as politically shrewd and naturally likable.
- Lt. Governor: Carol Molnau
- Secretary of State: Mark Ritchie
- Attorney General: Lori Swanson
- State Auditor: Rebecca Otto
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