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The Minnesota AFL-CIO praised Governor Mark Dayton’s decision to appeal a court ruling that invalidated his vetoes of funding for the state Legislature. And the labor federation urged all lawmakers to work together to improve the state budget.
On Wednesday, Ramsey County Judge John Guthmann ruled that Dayton’s line-item vetoes of funding for the Minnesota House and Senate violated the separation of powers clause of the Minnesota constitution and are “null and void.”
The Republican-controlled Legislature sued Dayton, a DFLer, over the vetoes, which the governor said he implemented to get lawmakers to negotiate further on the state budget. Except for the line-item vetoes, Dayton signed the funding bills to prevent a shutdown of state services.
After Guthmann’s ruling, the governor announced he would appeal the decision to the Minnesota Supreme Court.
“Working Minnesotans applaud Governor Dayton’s move to appeal today’s court decision,” Minnesota AFL-CIO President Bill McCarthy said in a statement.
“The Republican budget is a bonanza of tax giveaways to corporate CEOs coupled with toxic policies that weaken teacher standards and demonize immigrants.
“Republicans can avoid further wasting taxpayer dollars by returning to the table with Governor Dayton to negotiate a budget that is fair to working people and reflects Minnesota values.”
The Minnesota AFL-CIO is the state labor federation made up of more than 1,000 affiliate unions, representing more than 300,000 working people throughout Minnesota.