Gov. Mark Dayton
Governor Mark Dayton says Friday morning he’ll veto the first five budget bills the legislature sent him, and negotiations can resume after lawmakers send him the rest of the bills and he’s vetoed them. The governor says, “I’m going to Saint Cloud for the Fishing Opener. They have a community picnic tomorrow afternoon and then the evening events, and Saturday, and then fishing, and then Sunday’s Mothers Day. So as a practical matter, I don’t see how we could start before Monday morning anyway.”
Republicans, with a one-vote majority in the Minnesota Senate, are having trouble passing the rest of the budget bills because one member is out on a family medical emergency. Rochester Senator Carla Nelson’s father is gravely ill.
Dayton and Republicans remain far apart on major budget items, including tax cuts, education funding, human services spending and a transportation package with under two weeks remaining in the legislative session.