House and Senate judiciary chairs fighting to protect the Justice System
From www.politicsinminnesota.com:
[Rep. Steve] Smith, alongside the chairman of the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, Warren Limmer, has already indicated that he believes courts should not be considered for cuts given past reductions that have overburdened public defenders.
“I consider the judiciary branch to be a high priority for our society,” Smith said. “The government owes its citizens two things, and that’s public safety and justice. Those areas shouldn’t be cut.”
In fact, Smith plans to try for a 5 percent increase in the judiciary budget – which is fair, in his estimation, because the state’s spending is projected to increase 5 percent, too. What sort of reaction is he expecting to a spending increase proposal? “I suppose there may be some grumbling,” he allowed.