Supreme Court to rule on Dayton veto case

The Minnesota Supreme Court is expected to deliver its long-awaited decision Thursday in a court case between the governor and Legislature.

A notice from the clerk of courts to parties in the case said a decision has been made in the lawsuit regarding Gov. Mark Dayton's vetoes. Dayton struck down funding for the House and Senate in a broader dispute over the state budget.

If high court invalidates the line-item vetoes, it would cause funding to spring back. If justices uphold the vetoes, it will push the Legislature toward a financial crisis.

The sides have been in limbo since a court-ordered mediation failed to produce a deal to restore the funding. In October, the Legislature had to begin relying on reserves to pay bills.

Senate leaders say they will run out of money in coming weeks and were working to line up a temporary funding stream to keep staff employed into January.

Next year's session won't convene until mid-February.