Dayton, Republicans Take Budget Views On The Road

ST. PAUL  (AP) -- Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican legislative leaders hopscotch across Minnesota on Wednesday to pitch opposing views on the Democratic governor's budget.

Dayton's proposal includes nearly $3 billion in new taxes on the state's top earners plus increased spending on schools.

Dayton starts in Duluth and stops in Moorhead, Mankato and Rochester where he will appear with local mayors. His budget would hold local government aid steady, with the goal of heading off future property tax increases.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch and House Speaker Kurt Zellers are traveling in the opposite direction to the same cities to criticize the plan. They start in St. Paul.

Also Wednesday, union workers who back Dayton's approach are rallying at the Capitol.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)