Court fight between Gov. Mark Dayton, lawmakers shines light on hefty legislative expenses

Minnesota lawmakers billed the state for more than $335,200 in housing and other expense reimbursements from July 1 to Sept. 1 — a two-month period when the Legislature was not in session for a single day — according to court documents filed in the legal battle between Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican legislative leaders.

Spending items range from payroll and office expenses to State Fair Tickets ($3,750) and flowers ($482). The information disclosed does not link the expense reimbursements to the 201 individual members of the Legislature, or indicate if the sometimes-hefty expenses were racked up by Republicans or DFLers.

In court filings, legislative leaders say those expenses and others — which typically aren’t shared in detail with the public — are necessary to keep the Legislature running.

Lawmakers use that spending as evidence that the House and Senate will run out of money by this winter, should the Minnesota Supreme Court refrain from ultimately striking down Dayton’s veto of legislative funding.

Read more: http://www.startribune.com/court-fight-between-gov-mark-dayton-lawmakers-shines-light-on-hefty-legislative-expenses/445861783/