The battle between Governor Mark Dayton and Republicans over tax cuts won’t end even after the state Supreme Court later this month considers whether Dayton can veto operating funds for the GOP-controlled Minnesota Legislature. Even though Dayton lost the first round he says he’s confident he’ll win the court case — but either way he says, “[I] intend to continue these issues and this disagreement into the next legislative session, ’cause I think they’re vitally important to the future of Minnesota.”
Dayton vetoed funding for legislature, trying to force Republicans to rescind several tax cuts and other measures which he says jeopardize the state’s fiscal stability. Republicans sued and a judge ruled Dayton’s vetoes violated constitutional separation of powers. Dayton appealed to the Minnesota Supreme Court.
Excerpts from the governor’s comments last Friday on the issue: