Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s plan to cut state spending by $750 million over the next two years — with major hits to health and human services, higher education and aid to cities — is not attracting many fans. Since its unveiling yesterday afternoon, the proposal has been roundly criticized by local elected officials, university leaders and advocates for the poor and disabled. Here’s a roundup of opinions about the proposed budget:

Pat Mellenthin, executive director of The Arc of Minnesota, on proposed cuts to health and human services:

The Governor may try to paint this as simply reducing the growth in HHS spending, but let’s be honest. The projected growth in HHS spending is not intended to fund excesses. Those projected increases in spending are based on anticipated real costs and real needs of real people. The Governor can’t pretend that people’s lives won’t be seriously impacted by his proposed cuts.

Robert Bruininks, president of the University of Minnesota:

Gov. Pawlenty’s budget recommendations today are just the first step in a long budget process. His proposal for the university’s budget carries with it enormous consequences. It will impact the quality and affordability of the education we provide. It will impair our ability to serve as a job creation engine for the state through research and development. And, it will have an inevitable impact on our workforce, tuition and our ability to attract research grants – just as it did five years ago when the state cut $195 million from the university.

Dane Smith, president of progressive think tank Growth & Justice:

Minnesota’s shared prosperity and quality of life rest on a foundation of wise public investment in human capital and physical infrastructure. This budget plan threatens that already weakened foundation with a dubious and unrealistic cuts-and-shifts strategy.

R.T. Rybak, Mayor of Minneapolis:

We recognize that the current financial situation needs a shared sense of sacrifice. However, it’s unfortunate for the taxpayers of Minneapolis that the Governor is looking to make the state’s lack of financial management another burden for our residents.

Eliot Seide, executive director of AFSCME Council 5, on a proposed wage freeze for state employees:

Our members earn on average $38,000 a year, and like most Minnesotans they’re struggling paycheck to paycheck and shouldn’t have to sacrifice alone while corporations see their taxes cut in half.

Dave Van Hattum, policy program manager at Transit for Livable Communities, on a looming $91 million shortfall for regional transit providers:

Without addressing the transit operating deficit, the Governor will prevent people from reaching their jobs. This doesn’t make sense in this economic climate. At a minimum, maintaining public transit service must be part of a Minnesota budget aimed at advancing prosperity.

Jan Malcolm, CEO of Courage Center, a Minneapolis-based physical rehabilitation facility:

While our services would be cut by almost $1.7 million under the proposed budget, the broader effects on the community would be far more severe. The Governor proposes to completely eliminate physical, occupational, speech and audiology therapies from all public health insurance programs for adults in need of rehabilitation.

John Van Hecke, director of operations and planning for progressive think tank Minnesota 2020:

The Governor’s budget recommendations continue the tired conservative policies that failed middle-class Americans these last eight years. Slashing investment in healthcare, communities and colleges while handing out tax giveaways to large multi-nationals will not create good-paying jobs for working Minnesotans. This plan will only make Minnesota’s recession worse.