Senate Majority Leader David Senjem took a dim view of the governor's symbolic veto of an upcoming constitutional amendment.
"Governor [Mark] Dayton's mock veto today of the Voter ID constitutional amendment is completely misleading and intervenes with a constitutional process allowed our citizens," Senjem, R-Rochester, said in a statement Monday. "After the historic votes in the House and Senate, Minnesotans will now have the opportunity to weigh in on whether a photo ID should be required in order to vote."
The governor, who admitted his action would do nothing to keep the amendment off the November ballot, said he was issuing the symbolic veto because the Legislature sent his office a copy of the legislation that passed the amendment.
Senjem's statement concluded: "The Governor's action today misleads voters by suggesting the Governor has the authority to override the legislature's right to place a question on the ballot. Governor Dayton acted today as an obstruction to the democratic process by undermining the important legislative measure."
Senate GOP caucus spokesman Steve Sviggum said lawmakers are debating the logistics of a mock override of what they're calling the governor's "mock veto." Since members are scattered home to their districts for the Easter/Passover break, it could be tricky.
