Governor Mark Dayton

Governor Mark Dayton says it will take a "very compelling case" to win exemptions from his plan to subject more items and services to the sales tax.

Republican State Senator John Pederson of St. Cloud is critical of Governor Mark Dayton's budget proposal because it increases spending over the next biennium. However, Pederson says he found some things in Dayton's budget proposal that he could support.

Governor Mark Dayton wants several changes to the state's tax code. Representative Tim O'Driscoll of Sartell says he's not thrilled with the Governor's plan.

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton hopes to raise $2.1 billion more in state taxes, partly by subjecting more items to the sales tax in a tradeoff for a lowered rate. The Democrat's proposal Tuesday covers the waterfront in taxes.

Minnesota's tax code brims with contradictions, carve-outs and just plain confusion. At least that's how governor after governor has viewed it as he's tried to convince the Legislature and the public that the system is ripe for a remake.

Gov. Mark Dayton is planning to deliver his State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature on Feb. 6. Dayton requested the date from legislative leaders on Wednesday.

Gov. Mark Dayton has checked out of Mayo Clinic in Rochester and is headed home for a few weeks of recuperation from back surgery. Spokeswoman Katharine Tinucci says the governor was released Tuesday morning.

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton has undergone spinal surgery that will likely sideline him at least through New Year's. Dayton spokeswoman Kathleen Tinucci says the Mayo Clinic surgeon who performed the procedure Thursday reports it went as planned, without any complications.

Gov. Mark Dayton will undergo spinal surgery next week at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Dayton's office announced Friday that the operation is being done to relieve a constriction in the governor's lower back, known as stenosis, and to fuse a vertebrae in the same area that is shifting out of alignment.

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton says he's willing to listen to legislative proposals to alter the state's gun laws. But the Democratic governor says he has no immediate changes that he plans to present to the 2013 Legislature.