Pawlenty threatens bill that limits unallotment
Gov. Tim Pawlenty is warning legislators not to mess with his unallotment authority.
Last session, the Republican governor used his executive power to make unilateral spending cuts and solve a budget deficit when he couldn't reach an agreement with DFL legislative leaders. Pawlenty is appealing a recent court ruling that blocked part of his budget fix.
Sen. Dick Cohen, DFL-St. Paul and Rep. Lyndon Carlson, DFL-Crystal, have a news conference scheduled Tuesday to discuss their proposal to limit the unallotment authority granted to the executive branch. Pawlenty sent a letter today to House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller and all members of the legislature threatening a veto.
"To be clear, I will veto any bill presented to me that attempts to repeal, limit, or in any way reduce executive branch authority to balance the state's budget through executive action, unless such legislation has been previously agreed to by me," Pawlenty wrote.
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