Dayton To Sign Budget Bill For Minn. Farm Programs

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Gov. Mark Dayton has signed the least disputed budget bill passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature.

The Democratic governor held a bipartisan signing ceremony Friday to approve a two-year spending package that cuts 5 percent from budgets for farm programs. He and the bill's lead GOP negotiators say it could serve as a model for a budget deal.

That deal remains elusive, with Dayton seeking to raise high-end income taxes and Republicans vowing to erase a $5 billion deficit without state tax increases. They also remain divided on policy and priorities for large spending areas such as public schools and health care.

The farm bill also settles up promised ethanol producer payments before those subsidies are phased out.

Dayton says he also signed a bill adjusting Green Acres tax breaks for agricultural land.

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