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Deal On Minn. Budget Cuts Lacks Dayton Blessing

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- A $900 million package of state budget cuts could be headed to Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton by week's end.

Dayton has been critical of the legislation and the process Republican majorities are using to tackle a $6.2 billion deficit. But on Tuesday, he resisted saying he would veto it.

The proposal negotiated by a House-Senate conference committee is leaner than separate versions that passed each chamber. But the targeted spending remains unchanged: reduced aid to local governments, public colleges and health and welfare programs.

The bill also orders the executive branch to make $100 million in immediate but unspecified cuts. Dayton says lawmakers should spell out where those cuts will be made.

He also says the partial fix "skews the process" and deprives the public of sense of the budgetary tradeoffs.

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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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