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Dayton Proposes Help For MnDOT Worker's Family

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Gov. Mark Dayton is asking lawmakers to authorize a better pension for the family of a state transportation worker who died after his backhoe was swept into the flooding Minnesota River last week.

Dayton proposed legislation Friday to benefit the family of Mike Struck, a 39-year-old Minnesota Department of Transportation worker. The Democratic governor would like to increase the family's $191-a-month survivor's pension to almost $2,000 a month.

It's rare for governors to propose legislation that benefits one family, but Dayton said that amount would be close to what a family of a state patrol officer killed in the line of duty would get.

Struck is survived by his wife and two young children.

The governor said a bill will be introduced with bipartisan backing.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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