(St. Paul- MN) On Thursday, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled 5-1 in favor of the constitutionality of Governor Mark Dayton’s exercise of his line-item veto of the legislature’s appropriation. The decision which upends the lower court’s ruling effectively defunds the legislature and puts to rest an ongoing legal battle which began in May of this year.  In the same ruling the Court declined to act on the question of if the Governor’s veto violated a separate section of the constitution in which he may have used the line-item power to unlawfully coerce the legislature into action.

Sen. Paul Utke (R- Park Rapids) issued the following statement:

“I am disappointed with the Minnesota Supreme Court’s decision to allow Governor Dayton to proceed with his line-item veto of the legislature’s appropriation.  The Court and Governor Dayton have made it clear that they do not respect our state’s ‘separation of power’ clause.   Since his veto in May, Governor Dayton has continued down his path to undo our legislative compromises, jeopardized the livelihood of hundreds of state employees, and effectively abolish the legislature and silence the voice of Minnesotans.”

“As a result of this ruling I now have fundamental questions and concerns about what this will mean for the future of democracy and compromise in our state.”