Since before he was elected, Governor Mark Dayton has colluded with labor unions to reclassify private child care businesses as employees of the state for the sole purpose of unionization. He has chosen to relentlessly pursue this scheme against the wishes of both child care providers and the citizens of Minnesota.

To maintain their freedom, child care providers have filed four separate lawsuits; two challenging the 2011 Executive Order and two challenging the 2013 Family Child Care Representation Act. The cost of Governor Dayton defending this scheme in court has fallen on the taxpayers even though the Governor, SEIU and AFSCME have millions of dollars at their disposal.

 It's time Governor Dayton take responsibility for his mistakes and personally pay legal fees for all plaintiffs in each challenge as well as all costs associated with defending, promoting and implementing this unconstitutional scheme.