DES MOINES -- Democrats unveiled their budget blueprint Tuesday, a week before the Legislative session is set to adjourn, showing they plan to spend about $6.1 billion next year.

Their proposal calls for about $300 million less in spending than what Gov. Chet Culver called for in January for the 2009 fiscal year that begins July 1.

The Democrats' spending targets are less than Culver's recommendations because lawmakers have not embraced some of the governor's revenue-generating plans, including a change to corporate tax law.

The budget draft is a 3.7 percent increase over last year's budget, said House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines. That bump -- made possible through higher projected tax receipts -- won't allow for large increases in state programs and is right around the cost-of-living increase, he said.

"We have a tight-belt budget year," McCarthy said.

But House Minority Leader Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City -- who had repeatedly lambasted Democrats for not releasing the targets -- said the spending level the majority party has proposed will be difficult for lawmakers to sustain in the future. Rants said total state expenditures will be more than the 3.7 percent increase Democrats are predicting.

"We just can't get over the enormity of the money that is being spent," Rants said. "There's nothing limited about this."

DONNA REED TRIBUTE -- The Iowa House paid tribute Tuesday to actress Donna Reed and the legacy she has left in her hometown of Denison.

Rep. Clarence Hoffman, R-Denison, and Rep. Rod Roberts, R-Carroll, offered a resolution honoring Reed and the 2008 performing arts festival in her name, which will be held June 16 through June 21 in Denison.

Reed appeared in the classic film "It's a Wonderful Life" and won an Oscar for her role in "From Here To Eternity."

This year marks the 50th anniversary of "The Donna Reed Show" on television.

WRONG VOTE RIGHT -- Rep. Steve Lukan, R-New Vienna, took a good-natured ribbing for his accidental vote alongside Democrats for a massive $1.24 billion education funding bill.

Most Republicans held back on voting yes, with some questioning how the money was allocated. Others have raised concerns they hadn't seen the full budget picture before being forced to take votes on spending bills.

Lukan hadn't realized he voted for the bill until he was asked about his vote. By the next morning, Lukan seemed OK with it.

"On review, I think it was the right decision," Lukan said. "I'm glad I did it."

Lukan said he might have been more distraught had he been the deciding vote. He noted some pieces in the bill he liked, including one that streamlined the process for students who go from community colleges to the state's public universities.