State Auditor Rebecca Otto as promised is appealing to the Minnesota Supreme Court over a new state law that allows counties to contract with private auditing firms rather than use the state auditor’s office. The state Court of Appeals rejected Otto’s lawsuit last month, but did say the law in question does not disturb the state auditor’s ultimate authority as the state’s general accountant. But Otto contends the law “will unacceptably diminish the protection this constitutional office provides the taxpayers of this state.” Republicans respond Otto’s appeal is wasting taxpayer money to promote her bid for governor in 2018.