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RELEASE: Anderson: Otto appeal "an exercise in futility" at the expense of taxpayers

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

ST. PAUL, MN—Representative Sarah Anderson, R-Plymouth, Chair of the House State Government Finance Committee, issued the following statement regarding Tuesday's news that State Auditor Rebecca Otto would appeal Friday's court ruling that the bipartisan law passed and signed into law by Governor Dayton allowing counties to partner with Certified Public Accounting firms for their annual audits was indeed constitutional.

"It's unfortunate for Minnesota taxpayers that Rebecca Otto is choosing to continue this ridiculous and frivolous lawsuit. Further attempts to overturn this bipartisan law amount to an exercise in futility coming at the expense of Minnesota taxpayers and counties."

To date, Minnesota taxpayers have been forced to pay at least $220,000 in legal fees thanks to Otto's legal challenge, in addition to the tens of thousands in legal fees incurred by the counties named as parties in the lawsuit.

"I call on Governor Dayton to urge Auditor Otto to put an end to this pointless endeavor, and put the interests of Minnesota taxpayers ahead of her political gamesmanship," Anderson concluded.

Earlier this year, DFL Deputy Minority Leader Rep. Paul Marquart, DFL-Dillworth, noted that "Looking from the outside in, it looks like you are protecting a government bureaucracy at the expense of efficiency."

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