BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (AP) — In full budget mode, Gov. Mark Dayton has described himself as anxious to make his case to chambers of commerce, rotary clubs and other venues around the state. On Thursday, he gets the ears of statewide newspaper publishers and editors.

Dayton was headed to the Minnesota Newspaper Association’s annual conference in Bloomington. Such exposure matters for a governor hungry to get his message out and positive editorials from publications, particularly those with small-town reach.

The Democratic governor is proposing higher income taxes for high-end earners and a substantial remake of the sales tax. He would expand its reach to many services and pricey apparel but wants to lower the underlying rate by one-fifth. It’s part of a nearly $38 billion budget now before the Legislature.

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