A legislative committee decides today whether to hire an outside attorney to handle a possible lawsuit against Governor Mark Dayton. It comes after Republicans put a measure in a tax-cut bill to “insure” the governor would sign it, and an incensed Dayton then vetoed funding for the legislature’s day-to-day operations — saying he’d allow it to be restored only if Republicans repeal some business tax cuts just enacted, cancel reductions in the estate tax and tobacco tax breaks, allow illegal immigrants to obtain drivers licenses, and undo just-passed changes to teacher licensing laws. Republican leaders say Dayton’s action would basically shut down the legislative branch, violating separation of powers provisions in the state Constitution.