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Capitol View®
Tim Pugmire

Thompson explains missed tax vote

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When the Minnesota Senate passed a major tax bill last Friday, a Republican candidate for governor was not in the chamber.

Sen. Dave Thompson, R-Lakeville, did not cast a vote on the bill that provided $443 million in tax reductions through several federal conformity measures and the repeal of three business sales taxes. The Senate passed the bill 58 - 5.

Thompson explained today he had a previous commitment Friday that had been on his calendar for several weeks.

“I knew from having participated in caucus that the majority of our caucus was going to support the bill, that the vote wouldn’t be close, so I kept my commitment,” Thompson said. "Rest assured that if I thought my vote could potentially have made a difference, I’d have been here.”

Thompson said his absence was excused. He declined to elaborate on the nature of the commitment.

“I’m not discussing what the event was,” he said. “As members of the Senate, and I assume the House,  we get excused absences all the time for various kinds of things. Sometimes they’re constituent related. Sometimes they’re political related.”

The Senate does not typically hold floor sessions on Fridays. The tax vote was originally planned for Thursday, but it was delayed a day after Republicans said they needed more time to study the bill.

From the Senate Journal:

Senators Eaton and Fischbach were excused from the Session of today. Senator Gazelka was excused from the Session of today from 9:30 to 10:20 a.m. Senator Goodwin was excused from the Session of today from 9:30 to 10:40 a.m. Senator Thompson was excused from the Session of today at 10:30 a.m. Senator Westrom was excused from the Session of today at 11:45 a.m.