Reaction

"We are not on the ropes. We are not destined to fail. Brighter days will come if you make the tough decisions now." -- Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

--"What Governor Pawlenty is proposing is not fair. He is sticking it to cities with low property wealth -- those cities that got the least benefit from the property tax relief signed into law two years ago -- and protecting the rich suburbs in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. We can only hope that our legislators have more wisdom than that." -- Detroit Lakes Mayor Larry Buboltz.

--"At first glance, it appears the Governor has gone through government agencies and programs with a fine tooth comb. We offered proposals to down-size bureaucracy, cut duplication of services, trim costs, and eliminate programs that are not an appropriate role of the government. We're pleased to see some of our proposals included in his recommendations." -- Twila Brase, president of the Citizens' Council on Health Care.

--"Republicans want to turn their backs on the Minnesota Miracle -- the very things that made us one in livability, number one in economic vitality, number two in high school graduation rates and literally hundreds more lists Minnesota tops." --Assistant Senate Majority Leader Ann Rest, DFL-New Hope.

"It's fair to say the framework the governor has proposed is balanced among all Minnesotans." House Majority Leader Erik Paulsen, R-Eden Prairie.

--"The last place we should be putting more pressure is on the local property tax because that's what drives people out of homes." --Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak.

--"The reality for any local government will be property tax increases and it will be a loss if our communities sacrifice security." --House Minority Leader Matt Entenza, DFL-St. Paul.

--"I don't see the cost savings, to be quite frank with you." --Lester Collins, executive director of the Council on Black Minnesotans, on Pawlenty's plan to move all minority councils under the same roof.

"Raising tuition will not be our first course of action; however, given a historic reduction of our base state funding, additional tuition increases are almost inevitable." -- University of Minnesota President Bob Bruininks, who manages a budget in line for a 15 percent decrease in state aid.

"This affects the rights of all Minnesota citizens to timely adjudication of disputes, fair and speedy trials in criminal matters, and the protection of the most vulnerable of our society from abuse and neglect. This is unacceptable." -- Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz.