Bills vetoed

ST. PAUL (AP) -- Gov. Jesse Ventura vetoed two bills Tuesday, including one that would fund child-care and community-education programs.

Ventura said he would not sign any spending bills until he sees the tax bill. The $544 million bill for early childhood education programs was the only major spending bill approved by the Legislature before it adjourned the regular session last Monday.

"My top priority continues to be tax reform, and I will require a completed tax bill before I put my signature on any of the spending bills," Ventura said in a letter explaining the veto.

"I'm glad he vetoed it. I'm glad he had second thoughts," said Sen. Sandy Pappas, DFL-St. Paul. "I thought it was a crummy bill that didn't move early childhood forward."

Ventura said he was also disappointed that the bill did not include his proposal to consolidate the state's three separate child care subsidy programs into one at a cost of about $20 million. The proposal was approved by both the House and Senate bills, but it was dropped when a conference committee negotiated the final language.