U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann brought her fiery brand of fiscal conservatism to a State Capitol rally Monday in support of a proposed constitutional amendment to cap state spending.

State spending has been out of control for years, the Minnesota Republican told the crowd. Since the '60s, spending has risen an average of 22 percent every two years.

"Do you think Minnesota should limit spending to what it takes in?" she asked. "Yes," the crowd replied.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty wants voters to approve a constitutional amendment in November that would limit general fund spending to what the state took in during the previous two-year budget cycle. The state now relies on forecasts that analyze expected revenues, expenditures and economic data to arrive at a budget target.

"This is fantasy economics and it won't work," said Bachmann, who proposed a similar measure when she was in the state Senate to no avail.

About 100 people attended the half-hour rally in the Capitol, most wearing buttons that said, "Thank You Governor Pawlenty." Others carried signs that said "Cap Spending Now" and "Cap the Capitol."

Critics say the governor is trying to polish his national image as a fiscal conservative by seeking a policy that would wreak havoc when future administrations and legislatures are not able to adapt to changing fiscal demands. They said voters are the ultimate controls to control spending. About 70 percent of state spending goes to health care and schools.

After the rally, state Rep. Paul Kohls, R-Victoria, said the $1.2 billion shortfall projected for the next 19 months reinforces the need for more fiscal control. "It's yet another slap in the face to politicians to wake up and start to actually address the real structural problems we have in our budget," said Kohls, who is sponsoring the bill in the House.

Baird Helgeson • 651-222-1288