REP. ABELER GIVES ASSITANCE TO GOVERNOR IN DECISION

by T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol reporter

Rep. Jim Abeler, R-Anoka, has been given credit in media reports for suggesting to Gov. Tim Pawlenty the idea of signing the DFL spending bills and using line-item vetoes and budget cuts to fashion them into acceptable form.

The governor, explained Abeler, did call him into the Governor’s Office and thank him for his help.

Abeler was pleased the governor took the approach that he did.

“I’m happy,” he said.

He came to the Capitol last January wanting to be a player, wanting to have an impact, said Abeler.

As for DFLers upset over the governor’s action, Abeler suggested Democrats had not really addressed the issue of revenue.

“And he (Pawlenty) did sign all of their bills,” he consoled.

Abeler, who will not rule out possibilities, indicated that if the human services budget were as lean and efficient as it could get and funding was still short, he could support increasing taxes.

“We’re a long ways from that,” he said.