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Talking Points: Health Dept. Head Talks Commissioner Pay Raises

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- More drama is expected this week at the Capitol as both Republicans and Democrats battle Gov. Mark Dayton over his awarding his commissioners large pay raises.

Dayton was clearly blindsided by opposition from DFL Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, whom the governor said stabbed him in the back by sponsoring a measure to delay the pay raises until July 1.

The governor's decision to award $800,000 in pay raises to agency heads caught just about everyone at the Capitol off guard. The raises were effective immediately and the increases ranged from 19 to 58 percent.

Lost in the debate were the commissioners themselves. Dayton said none of them asked him for raises.

Dr. Ed Ehlinger, the highly-regarded commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Health, had his salary jump from $120,000 to more than $150,000.

"Being health commissioner is a real honor, and I would do it at the lower salary," he said on WCCO Sunday Morning. "I certainly appreciate the governor's concern about our level of salary. I do know I don't get to choose commissioners, but I do get to choose other people within my organization. And I know it's been difficult to attract good people at a lower level underneath the commissioner because of the salary."

The governor said he will resist any attempts to block or delay the raises. Dayton says other top county officials and city officials across the state have been making more than top state commissioners for years and in order to attract and keep top talent the hikes are needed.

To see the full WCCO Sunday Morning interview with Health Commissioner Dr. Ed Ehlinger, watch the video above. Along with discussing the pay raises, he also talks about the battle over vaccines.

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