Legislature Sends Governor Dayton A Budget, A Veto Likely

ST. PAUL  (AP) - The Minnesota Legislature has sent a full set of budget bills to Gov. Mark Dayton.

The Senate finished passing its last three budget bills Thursday afternoon when it approved funding packages for environmental programs and parks; highways, roads and transit programs; and higher education. The House approved its last few budget bills earlier Thursday.

The budget bills total $34 billion in state spending for the next two years. They were assembled by majority Republicans and got nearly unanimous opposition from legislative Democrats, who say the cuts and reductions to state spending target vulnerable groups and would put pressure on local property taxes.

The bills are on their way to Dayton's desk, but he has strongly hinted he'll veto them since he and Republicans have not reached an overall deal on spending and taxation.

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