Minnesota Senate tax bill arrives after Dayton accuses fellow Democrats of stalling

Gov. Mark Dayton's first public appearance since hip surgery

Gov. Mark Dayton makes his first public appearance in more than a month on Tuesday, March 18, 2014. His second body cast since a Feb. 10 hip surgery was removed this week and he used his first news conference to blast fellow Democratic Senate leaders for holding up a tax bill until they got a new Senate building approved. (Forum News Service photo by Don Davis)

ST. PAUL Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton on Tuesday used his first public appearance since Feb. 8 to accuse fellow Democrats who lead the Senate of stalling a tax-cut bill until they won approval for a new Senate office building.

An hour and a half later, Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk of Cook and Tax Chairman Rod Skoe of Clearbrook showed off a tax bill they hope senators pass Thursday, without a building agreement. They denied that Daytons comments changed their plans.

Dayton, who has been in a body cast since Feb. 10 hip surgery, walked to a podium aided by crutches Tuesday afternoon and began to rip Bakk for telling him and House Democratic leaders that he would not allow a tax bill to pass until the House rules committee approves a new Senate building.

Im very, very, very disappointed they would not pass a bill, Dayton said.

The House passed a $500 million tax cut March 6. It would stop three sales taxes businesses pay as well as conform to federal tax laws.

Dayton and Revenue Commissioner Myron Frans said that tax cuts needed to be finished by today or Minnesotans would struggle to get tax breaks that come from matching state and federal laws.

Skoe had been saying that senators wanted more time to investigate implications of various tax provisions, and they would wrap up a bill by months end.

Democratic and Republicans senators must agree to suspend Senate rules before the Thursday vote will occur.

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Minnesota Senate tax bill arrives after Dayton accuses fellow Democrats of stalling