Walz backs state budget bill

Rep. Dale Walz, R-Brainerd, voted for the bipartisan budget-balancing bill that passed both the state House and Senate Thursday.

He said the bill eliminated the state's projected $1.95 billion deficit without raising taxes or cutting funding for Minnesota classrooms and nursing homes.

The legislation, which is awaiting Gov. Jesse Ventura's signature, includes $360 million in permanent spending cuts in 2002 and 2003 and $1.8 billion worth of cuts in 2004 and 2005. About $1.5 billion of state "rainy day" reserves are used, Walz said.