Governor Tim Pawlenty's plan to close a 4-point-2 billion dollar projected budget deficit doesn't just have financial impact across the state. It also has a political impact too. Pawlenty's budget makes cuts... or limits growth in health programs... higher education... and state employee pay. It also spends much of the tobacco endowments. But his budget also largely preserved funding for K-through-12 education... and included no new taxes. Joining us on the line to talk about the politics of the budget is Chris Gilbert... professor of political science at Gustavus Adolphus College.