Governor Vetoes Budget, Special Session Imminent

UPDATE (MAY 24 12:56 p.m.): Just 12 hours after the state legislature adjourned, Governor Mark Dayton vetoed the nine budget bills passed by the Republican legislature in the closing days of session, and returned the bills along with veto messages outlining areas of both agreement and concern. 
  
In his veto letters, Governor Dayton outlined the stark differences and the need for compromise: 
  
“Each of us started our budget proposals by making a choice.  I chose a balanced approach to our budget; one that included both significant cuts, but asked the top two percent of Minnesotans to pay more to ensure our quality of life and the services millions of Minnesotans depend on.  My approach chooses not to balance the budget on the backs of the other ninety-eight percent of Minnesotans," Dayton said. 

To read more, click here. 

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Looming over lawmakers all day Monday was the question of adjournment. And in the end, Minnesota legislators were forced to end their regular legislative session at midnight, without a new budget. 

Because GOP lawmakers and could not put a two-year budget plan in place, Dayton will be forced to convene a special session. 

Parties are at odds over how to deal with the projected $5 billion shortfall in the state’s budget. Some Democrats argued that increased taxes on the wealthiest Minnesotans was the answer, while Republicans were advocating cuts in spending.

blamed the current deadlock on the Governor.

“His proposal is not the middle, it is on the wrong side of compromise. He has indicated he will veto our budget, which would almost certainly force a special session,” she said in a statement.

said she supported the Governor.

“I believe that the overall cuts proposed in the areas of Health and Human Services and Higher Education in particular are too deep,” Bonoff wrote in a statement to her constituents. “I continue to advocate for a blend of revenue and cuts.”

If the budget battle continues through the special session, to June 30, the end of the current budget cycle, Minnesota’s state government would shut down. The last time a partial state government shutdown happened was in 2005, when then-Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) and Senate Demcorats failed to reach a budget deal.