Dayton ‘relieved’ session over, will sign all bills
DFL Gov. Mark Dayton said today he will sign all of the bills passed during the special session that concluded early this morning.
Lawmakers passed three revised budget bills for education, agriculture and environment and jobs and energy. Dayton vetoed earlier versions of those bills. They also passed a bonding bill, legacy bill and technical corrections bill.
During a news conference, Dayton said the session ended with lawmakers sharply divided, but they still made significant progress in some areas, including a funding increases for schools and nursing homes.
“I’m relieved that we’re done, session’s over,” Dayton said. “I’m relieved that state employees don’t have to worry any longer about their jobs come July 1. There are good features in these bills which need to be put to work for the benefit of Minnesota.”
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Dayton said he will sign the agriculture and environment bill, even though he described it as “still a bad bill” and many DFL lawmakers opposed it. He said he regrets that it included the House GOP provision to eliminate the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Citizens’ Board. Dayton said he will push to restore the board in 2017.
“It’s not going to set environmental progress back in Minnesota, because I won’t let it.”
Senate Republicans helped majority Democrats pass the agriculture and environment bill after receiving a promise of tax cuts next session. Dayton said he was not involved in that deal.
“I don’t know what was said. I don’t know the context of what was said, I have not made any promises to anybody to secure the passage of these bills.”
Still, Dayton said it’s widely assumed that there will be a tax cut bill next session, especially if the state’s budget cushion continues to grow.