To the Editor:

Now that both bodies of the Minnesota Legislature have submitted their fiscal targets for the upcoming budget cycle, the heavy lifting at the State Capitol is about to begin.

This is the time of year at the Legislature when we kick it into high gear. Once leadership has made budget target decisions, the next step is to decide which proposals will make it into omnibus bills and become laws, and which will be left out.

The General Fund budget target for the Minnesota House is $39.95 billion. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Gov. Mark Dayton’s General Fund budget totals $43 billion.

The House budget resolution, which contains the targets, is then adopted in the Ways and Means Committee and each House finance committee will then work within those limits to build the budget.

I expect those finance committees to have their individual budgets set within the next two weeks, and expect a flurry of legislative activity to follow.

It’s always difficult for legislators to say no to someone with a legitimate funding request, but it is necessary because you can’t put two quarts of liquid in a one-quart jar. The requests for money always outpace the revenue available, and this year is no different. Lawmakers tend to fight for their district first, and we are beginning to see a number of local issues being pushed to the forefront for debate in hopes of possible inclusion in major funding proposals in the weeks ahead.

The 2015 legislative session must conclude on May 18.

State Rep. Bob Gunther,

R-Fairmont