Woodbury Lawmakers Await Governor’s Plan After Veto

The big news from the state Capitol of late was Gov. Mark Dayton’s veto of a bill that would have reduced state spending by $900 million.

Rep. Andrea Kieffer, who represents the bulk of Woodbury in the state House, said she, like others, saw the veto coming.

“It didn’t really surprise me that he would veto this right off the bat,” she said. “But it does disappoint me.”

Kieffer, R-Woodbury, said she saw the bill as a starting point for lawmakers as they look for ways to dig the state out of its $6.2 billion deficit. The bill would have kept spending at last biennium’s levels, she said.

Chiming in on the governor’s State of the State address, Kieffer said she agreed with his ideas about education reform and generating a more pro-business climate in Minnesota. But he continued to say the state must “invest” in these programs. “Which really means spend more money,” she said.

Dayton will release his own budget Tuesday.

Pledge of Allegiance

Marcus Kuboy led the state Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance on Monday under a new program established by Sen. Ted Lillie, who represents Woodbury in the upper chamber. Kuboy is a wounded veteran and was the first soldier/veteran to lead the Senate in the oath this year.