ST. PAUL -- Minnesota State Auditor Rebecca Otto is getting ready to sue over a law legislators passed earlier this year removing some of her power.
Otto's office has paid nearly $107,000 to a private Minneapolis law firm preparing for a potential lawsuit. She said she has not decided whether to sue after House Republicans pushed through a measure, approved by the Democratic-controlled Senate and signed into law by Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton, that allows some counties to hire private accounting firms instead of paying Otto's office to audit their books.
Removing the county auditing duty, she said Tuesday, violates the state Constitution.
The measure passed as the legislative session ended in May. After the regular session, Dayton tried and failed to get lawmakers to change the auditor provision during a special session called to finish writing the state budget.
"I told the Legislature I would take all necessary steps to protect this constitutional office," Otto said. "It belongs to the people of Minnesota. Over the last several months I have been working with my internal and external legal teams to explore all options."
ADVERTISEMENT
