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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Glenn Gruenhagen (R)

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Legislative Update from Rep. Glenn Gruenhagen

Friday, July 21, 2017
Dear Friends,
 
This week, a district court judge struck down Gov. Mark Dayton’s unprecedented and unconstitutional attempt to line-item veto the Legislature’s funding.
 
This is very good news for Minnesotans’ voices at the Capitol. We are pleased to see the district judge reach this decision that protects the integrity of our Constitution. Gov. Dayton, immediately decided that instead of allowing this verdict to stand, he would appeal the ruling, and has already started the process of filing an appeal with the Supreme Court.
 
One key portion of the ruling against the governor’s action reads: “To conclude, the court holds that Gov. Dayton improperly used his line-item veto authority to gain a repeal or modification of unrelated legislation by effectively eliminating a co-equal branch of government. Therefore, under the unique and limited circumstances of this case, the Governor’s line-item veto of the Legislature’s appropriations offended the Separation of Powers clause of the Minnesota Constitution. They are null and void.”
 
This is a landmark case for our state. Our hope is that the Supreme Court will rule promptly upon receiving the Governor’s appeal, and side with the district court in protecting the voice of Minnesotans in ruling that it is unconstitutional for one branch of government to effectively dissolve another separate but equal branch of government.
 
I will keep you updated on this situation as it continues to progress.
 
Sincerely,
 
Glenn