Vendors Say Minnesota GOP Hasn’t Paid 2014 Campaign Bills

 ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Two vendors are accusing the Minnesota Republican Party of dragging its feet on hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid bills.

In emails sent to state GOP Chairman Keith Downey obtained by reporters, executives at Republican-owned consulting firms say they haven't been paid for services. The national firms provided direct mail and other communications for federal and state Republican candidates in Minnesota.

Downey said the party owes vendors about $300,000, and that it has paid 80 percent of its debt that is tied to campaigns to vendors. He said it takes a few months for parties to catch up on bills after elections.

The Minnesota Republic Party owed $1.47 million to creditors at the end of January. It had amassed nearly $2 million in debt when former chairman Tony Sutton exited his post.