From left: Budget Comm. Myron Frans, Lt. Gov. Tina Smith, Gov. Mark Dayton
Governor Mark Dayton says he’s “appalled” that House Republicans are holding up unemployment benefits for “desperate” Iron Rangers, but also signaled today that he’s willing to deal. Republicans want business tax cuts in the bill, and the governor says he’ll sign what the House and Senate agree to — as long as it has unemployment benefits for out-of-work Iron Range miners. Dayton says, “I’ll swallow what else they agree to and sign the bill. I’ll sign what they agree to, but it’s gotta go 26 weeks, retroactive, for everybody up there who’s affected.” Senate Democrats have said the business tax cuts must move forward in a bill separate from unemployment benefits.