Senator Rich Draheim [R-Madison Lake] expressed disappointment and frustration following yesterday’s Minnesota Supreme Court decision to allow Governor Mark Dayton’s veto of the legislature’s funding to stand. The ruling requires the Minnesota legislature to raid the funds of the nonpartisan Legislative Coordinating Commission (LCC), using upwards of $20 million of their appropriation in order to fund legislative operations.

 

“Governor Dayton and his Supreme Court’s ruling is typical government robbing Peter to pay Paul,” said Senator Draheim. “By coercing the legislature into using funds directly appropriated to the LCC, Dayton’s veto is creating financial instability for not only the legislature, but the entire State of Minnesota.”

 

In order to be able to function until the next legislative session in February, the legislature will access the LCC’s carryforward funds and their 2019 appropriation. Further, in an effort to conserve funds, the LCC passed a resolution prohibiting the use of their funds to pay for the rent of the Minnesota Senate Building. As a result of the veto, the state’s bond rating could be substantially downgraded. If that were to happen, the state would be forced to pay higher interest rates on other debt, including Minnesota school districts who borrow at the state’s interest rates. If the governor refuses to sign a legislative funding bill early next session, the legislature will run out of money and all legislative functions will cease, including the functions of the LCC (Legislative Auditor, Revisor, Reference Library, commissions, etc.). An exact date at which funding runs out has not yet been determined.

 

“If Governor Dayton believes in the constitutional right to three separate, but equal branches of government, his first action of the 2018 session will be signing the legislature’s funding into law,” added Senator Draheim. “If he does not, it will be clear that he wants the people’s voiced silenced at the capitol.”