Minnesota Democrats Planning Attack On Budget Deficit

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - In bits and pieces, legislative Democrats

are beginning to lay out their plans for attacking Minnesota's

nearly $1 billion budget deficit.

Senate leaders say they will try to solve the problem in chunks,

starting with bills that slice $200 million in spending, a fourth

of which would come out of higher education. Courts, the state

transportation department and agriculture programs would also take

hits.

House Democrats say they'll issue budget targets early in the

week.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty has his own plan on the table, based largely

on spending cuts but also on hoped-for increases in Minnesota-bound

federal money.

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