A sense of chaos consumed the State Capitol Wednesday as lawmakers' two biggest priorities — taxes and an infrastructure bill — both went into the ditch with just a few days remaining in the legislative session.
Gov. Mark Dayton is promising to veto a tax bill that the Republican-controlled Senate passed narrowly on Wednesday, after criticizing GOP legislative leaders for their apparent unwillingness to approve an additional aid package for schools. Meanwhile, a public works infrastructure measure that would have showered hundreds of millions of dollars on roads, bridges, water treatment and other projects around the state was defeated in the Senate on a party-line vote.
The developments — and the hard-edge political attacks that accompanied them — were the latest burst of partisan dysfunction at the Capitol, where Republican lawmakers have been unable to reach agreement with the second-term DFL governor on any of the major pieces of legislation that lawmakers have been considering since February. The legislative session ends Monday, but lawmakers must pass all legislation by Sunday at midnight.
"I'm going to veto it," Dayton said of the GOP tax bill, which would cut tax rates on the two lowest income tiers and align the state tax code with recent federal tax changes. In an interview at the governor's residence, Dayton blasted Republicans for not moving on his school aid request.
"There's no indication of any willingness to move on my top priority," Dayton said.
On May 1, Dayton asked for an additional $137.9 million to be spread among all 553 school districts across the state, including at least 59 districts that are anticipating budget shortfalls.
House Speaker Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, said the school proposal came too late to be properly vetted. "It requires more thought and attention than dropping it on everyone's lap," he said. "That doesn't show respect for the Legislature or for our teachers and school districts."
In the Senate, Majority Leader Paul Gazelka said Republicans in the Legislature share the governor's interest in supporting Minnesota schools but believe the state is already spending enough. He pointed to more than $1 billion in education spending increases that the Legislature approved last year, and he said lawmakers are also working this session to shore up teachers' pensions and provide money for safety improvements at schools.