Our perpetually petulant governor - Part MMCDLV

Even though the Supreme Court of Minnesota ruled that Little Lord Fauntleroy's Gov. Mark Dayton's line item veto of MN legislative funding was constitutional, they also indicated that the matter needed to be settled via mediation. This was in part because the SCOM felt they couldn't order funding to be reinstated (as a lower court had), so an agreement between the two parties would have to be reached to ensure the legislature could operate properly.

So when mediation commenced and Dayton heard something he didn't like, his reaction was indicative of how he's behaved these past 6-1/2 years when things haven't gone his way.

What was supposed to be two long days of talks to came to a crashing halt when Dayton walked out of negotiations midday Friday.

“I was angry. I told them in my 40 years dealing with Minnesota government, I have never, ever been lied to — and I don’t use that word lightly,” Dayton said. “The people of Minnesota have been lied to and the Supreme Court’s been lied to. … That infuriated me and it deeply offends me.”

The governor said what brought him to the brink was the disclosure that both the House and the Senate had enough money in savings to fund themselves for months, despite his veto. That belies, he said, their longtime claim that they sued over his funding veto to save legislative staff and the very existence of the Legislature.

Actually, no, that is (per Dayton's personal standards) a lie. The Legislature filed the lawsuit over being de-funded because they believed this violated the separation of powers. It seemed rather dictatorial to cut off funding to one branch of government because another branch disagrees with them. Does this mean Dayton could cut off funding for the judiciary if they handed down a legal ruling which rankled him?

In the end, Dayton has nothing to lose. He's not seeking reelection in 2018 and the legislature will be comprised of the opposing party the remaining 15+ months of his gubernatorial term. Why not continue throw crap against the proverbial wall and see what sticks? After all, Dayton will be unable to achieve little of his agenda next legislative session, assuming he even has a coherent plan.

Man, what a s--t show.

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