Minn. Senate passes bill cutting state workforce

The Minnesota Senate has passed a funding bill for state agencies and programs that would freeze state employee pay and reduce the size of the state workforce.

The Senate voted 37-29 on Wednesday for the $600 million state government bill. It passed on a straight party-line vote, and Republican Sen. Mike Parry says Dayton's budget commissioner told him Dayton will veto it.

The bill shrinks the size of the state workforce by 15 percent in the next five years, and most state agencies get 5 to 20 percent budget reductions.

Republicans who control the Legislature are in the midst of passing various budget bills, but Dayton insists he won't sign any until he strikes an overall budget deal with Republican leaders. Dayton and the GOP are in dispute over whether the budget should include a new revenue source.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)