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GOP Lawmaker Wants New Caps On Spending In Minn.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- A key Republican lawmaker wants voters to curb lawmakers' spending by amending the Minnesota constitution.

Senate Taxes Committee Chairwoman Julianne Ortman outlined a constitutional amendment Tuesday that would require legislative supermajorities to approve spending above 98 percent of projected revenue in a given budget period. Extra money would go into a rainy day fund.

The Chanhassen Republican is pressing to put the proposal on the 2012 ballot. She says legislators have a spending problem.

It's one of a slew of constitutional amendments introduced in past weeks by majority Republicans, who are also considering amendments to ban gay marriage and require voters to present photo identification at the polls.

Democratic Minority Leader Tom Bakk says this year's budget proposals from GOP majorities wouldn't meet Ortman's standard.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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