A Ramsey County judge is considering whether Governor Mark Dayton violated the Minnesota Constitution by vetoing funding for the legislature to try to force Republicans to reverse several tax cuts they pushed through in the last legislative session. In court this morning, Judge John Guthmann asked Dayton attorney Sam Hanson if at any point a governor’s “perpetual and continuous” vetoing of funding for the legislature would be unconstitutional. Hanson responded, “Only if it’s not an item of appropriation.” Judge Guthmann followed up, “So the governor *could* abolish the legislature.” Hanson said, “No, because the legislature can come in for funding from this court for its critical core functions.” Republican legislative leaders’ attorney Doug Kelley argued the governor is threatening to “essentially abolish the legislature” to coerce them into making concessions.