Dayton rips proposal for new budget office
DFL Gov. Mark Dayton is slamming a proposal to create a new legislative budget office, calling it unnecessary and unproductive.
Legislation introduced this week in the House and Senate would establish an office to take over some of the fiscal analysis duties currently performed by Minnesota Management and Budget. It would provide lawmakers with information about the potential cost of legislation.
Dayton said today there’s no reason to duplicate the efforts of the professional analysts at MMB.
“They’re totally separated from the commissioner. They’re totally separated from me. They’re totally separated from the legislators, except for making the requests,” Dayton said. “To impugn the integrity of these individuals, I think, is very, very unfair and totally unwarranted.”
Dayton said the proposed Legislative Budget Office would also add confusion to budget discussions by generating numbers that won’t always match those from the executive branch.
House Speaker Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, and Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, are sponsoring the measure.
Daudt said earlier this week that the Legislature should take care of its own fiscal notes and not depend on the executive branch.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.