Pawlenty to lawmakers: Don't cut JOBZ tax breaks for businesses

St. Paul (AP) — Governor Tim Pawlenty is sticking up for the JOBZ program of business tax breaks.

Pawlenty said he would be "very opposed" if lawmakers tried to eliminate the program, as has been proposed in tax bills moving through the DFL-controlled Legislature.

The Republican governor said on his regular Friday radio show that JOBZ isn't perfect, but overall it's been good and he wants to keep it.

The Job Opportunity Building Zone program offers tax breaks to businesses that expand or relocate in economically distressed areas.

A recent audit says two-thirds of JOBZ businesses would have expanded to some extent without the aid.