Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle and Republican Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty plan to announce a "major joint initiative" involving their two states on Tuesday.

They are scheduled to appear together in St. Paul, Minnesota, in the morning and then in Madison two and a half hours later.

The offices issued nearly identical announcements that did not contain details on what the initiative entailed. Doyle's spokesman Lee Sensenbrenner says the announcement involves finding efficiencies and cutting government spending.

Wisconsin is facing a projected $5.4 billion budget shortfall by mid-2011. Minnesota's shortfall is pegged at $4.8 billion.