ST. PAUL, MN— Rep. Eric Lucero, R-Dayton, issued the following statement after it was reported Gov. Mark Dayton issued potentially unauthorized taxpayer-funded severance payments, awarding nearly $80,000 to state employees who voluntarily departed.
“Gov. Dayton once again demonstrates complete disrespect for hardworking Minnesota taxpayers,” Lucero said. “In this most recent display of cronyism, Gov. Dayton lines the pockets of three of his surrogates with nearly $80,000 of taxpayer dollars in the form of questionable severance payments. This is on top of Gov. Dayton's unilateral move in 2015 to increase the salaries of his politically appointed commissioners by up to $42,500 each.”
Lucero also noted Katie Clark Sieben, a former top staffer of Gov. Dayton's 2010 campaign who was appointed Department of Employment and Economic Development commissioner, received a $30,000 pay increase after being appointed, and then received a $33,750 severance payment in addition to a $10,490 cash-out of unused vacation and sick time, for a total payout on the backs of taxpayers just shy of $45,000.
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