Minnesota Gov. Dayton, 69, ‘briefly fainted’ during speech

Daudt and fellow Republican legislative leaders declined to comment on Dayton’s speech, instead only offering their prayers for his health and safety. 
“That’s our whole focus right now, just praying for our governor,” Republican Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka said.

Facing a unified GOP front for his final two years in office — Republicans took back control of the Senate and strengthened their House majority in November — Dayton increasingly looked to the past as he seeks to cement his legacy. 

Dayton entered office in 2011 tasked with solving a $6 billion budget deficit. After a stalemate with Republican majorities led to a 20-day government shutdown that year, he and Democrats united to control the Capitol in 2013. They raised taxes on the state’s wealthiest earners, increased the minimum wage and legalized same-sex marriage.

The state has posted several years of surpluses, and the governor has pointed to that financial stability as a hallmark of his six years in office, insisting he’ll safeguard against a return to painful budget shortfalls.

“In 2010, I campaigned for governor on the promise of a better Minnesota. Now, and two years from now, I expect to be judged by you, the people of Minnesota, on how well I have kept that promise,” he said during his remarks. “In my first inaugural address, I promised that I would `clean up the state’s financial mess.’ I have kept my word.”

Dayton was light on details for his own budget proposal, which he was previously scheduled to unveil Tuesday, though he did call for another increase to the state’s per-pupil funding formula in public schools and more funding for early education options. He’s already sketched out his plans for more than $300 million in tax relief that’s heavy on credits for low-income families and farmers and urged lawmakers to approve more than $1 billion in a public construction backlog — the Legislature never passed a major infrastructure package last year.

Article Appeared @http://www.ktvu.com/news/231267586-story

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