Saint Paul – The following is a statement from Governor Tim Pawlenty regarding Minnesota Management & Budget’s updated economic forecast.

“Minnesota is not immune from the economic crisis. This is a challenging forecast that reflects a very challenging economy.

“As we balance the budget, state government needs to reflect the realities that families and businesses are facing. We need to focus on creating an environment that will grow jobs, tighten government’s belt by reducing spending, and avoid making the situation worse by raising taxes.”