Legislature on Hook for $400K for Lawsuit Against Dayton

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) _ The Minnesota Legislature owes about $400,000 in legal fees for its court battle with Gov. Mark Dayton.

Minnesota Public Radio News unveiled the Legislature's legal tab on Thursday, citing legislative aides who were apprised of the expense. That brings the total cost of the case to more than $750,000, after Dayton's own $368,000 bill.

The costly legal battle was triggered by Dayton's line-item veto of the Legislature's $130 million operating budget last May. Dayton wanted lawmakers to rework costly tax breaks and other measures, but lawmakers sued instead. The case eventually wound up at the Minnesota Supreme Court, which sided with Dayton in November.

Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka says he wishes taxpayers weren't responsible for covering the legal bills.

Dayton signed a bill last month restoring the Legislature's funding.