Koering Calls For Smaller Government, State and Local

Fort Ripley State Senator Paul Koering is hopeful that lawmakers and Governor Pawlenty will reach an agreement on how to cut the state budget by $935-Million. But Koering said the continuing problem is still the growth of government, both large and small. Koering said the state budget 8 years ago was $26-Billion. This biennium's is $34-Billion, a rate of increase Minnesota taxpayers can't afford.