Zellers says cuts could be restored if recession ends

Minnesota's new House minority leader says some of the cuts made to balance the budget could be restored or even avoided if the recession comes to an end.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty is set to use his executive authority to balance the state's budget by cutting funding for cities, health programs, and higher education. Some of his unallotment cuts begin with the new fiscal year next week.

But, Republican Kurt Zellers, the newly elected House minority leader from Maple Grove, says some of the cuts don't take effect until 2010 and can be revisited.

"If the economy ticks up at all, some of the unallotment things that we've discussed or we've heard about are in the second year," he said. "So, those things, once the economy comes back, can be maybe be put off...can maybe be changed...can be readjusted."

Zellers says governors should only use their unallotment power in dire economic times, such as the current recession.