Dayton supports new Senate office building but wants lower price tag

Proposed Legislative Office Building to be built next to the State Capitol. (Image courtesy of Minnesota Department of Administration)

Gov. Mark Dayton favors construction of a new Senate office building across the street from the state Capitol but hopes to lower the price tag on the controversial $63 million project.

"I think modest is appropriate when you're spending taxpayers' money," Dayton said Friday during a Capitol news conference.

Republican lawmakers have criticized what they consider lavish spending on the office building and an adjacent $27 million parking ramp, and a former GOP legislator has sued the state to block the project.

Dayton said new office space is needed for senators who will be displaced during and after the $272 million renovation of the Capitol now underway. That building will lose office space to make room for new elevators, stairways, mechanical equipment and life-safety upgrades.

The project is out of Dayton's hands; the Senate and House rules committees have the final say on the project.

But Dayton said he plans to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk and House Speaker Paul Thissen -- all three from the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party -- in the next three weeks to encourage them to shave the price of the new building. He said Thissen has asked the Department of Administration to propose cost-cutting options.

-- Bill Salisbury

Follow him at twitter.com/bsalisbury and facebook.com/PioneerPressPolitics.

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Dayton supports new Senate office building but wants lower price tag