In keeping with a commitment to pass budgets that respect taxpayers, Sen. Andrew Lang (R-Olivia) joined his Senate Republican colleagues Tuesday evening in passing portions of the Minnesota’s upcoming two-year budget. The Senate passed the following compromise conference committee reports: agriculture, state government and veterans, health and human services, environment and natural resources, and education.

“With under two weeks remaining in this year’s session, we have passed the first five budget compromises – an effort at a balanced budget that keeps the rate of growth in check,” said Sen. Lang. “After passing an initial budget very early in the session, Senate Republicans joined the House in negotiating in with Gov. Dayton. We met all the established deadlines and requests from the governor, but unfortunately – even after three weeks – the governor is nowhere near meeting us in the middle.

“With this being my first session and experience with state government, I truly expected the governor to come to the table with his pencil and eraser and get to work. He simply has not,” Sen. Lang continued.

These budgets reflect a serious compromise between the House and the Senate. Specifically, the agriculture budget includes funding for pollinator research, battling noxious weeds like Palmer amaranth, and reducing the burden of regulation on Minnesota farmers. The state government budget prioritizes our veterans through enhanced educational and job training opportunities and creates a more efficient government through a reduction in the cost of government operations.

“We have been working long hours because we are committed to finishing the work we were sent here to do. While I am disappointed that the governor has not been fully engaged in the process, I am hopeful and optimistic that he will soon work with us on getting a full budget signed into law,” Sen. Lang said.

Sen. Lang is serving his first term representing Senate District 17, which includes communities in Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Renville, and Swift counties in west central Minnesota. He serves as vice chair of the Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy Committee, in addition to serving on the conference committee for the omnibus agriculture budget.