DFL State Senator Don Samuelson of Brainerd chairs the Health and Family Security Budget Division. He says allowing local discretion is important. Every county's a little bit different, has a little bit different type of client to deal with. In the metro area, they have more folks here with an English-speaking problems as an example. People that come over here from other countries.
Rural communities have different issues - maybe transportation.
And certainly housing is statewide. So I think the general package is a good framework. Samuelson says his is only concern is that the Ventura plan may draw down the reserve too low, leaving the state in a bind if the economy turns sour and welfare rolls expand. Representative Kevin Goodno says he, too, has questions. Goodno is a Republican from Moorhead and chairs the House Health and Human Services Finance Committee.