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Little comes easy so far for Dayton

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Dec 26, 2011 at 8:03 am

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - It's been a busy first year in office for Gov. Mark Dayton, and a rocky one as well.

The Democratic governor elected by a razor-thin margin spent much of his first year in constant battle with new Republican legislative majorities. The GOP held the line against Dayton's central campaign promise, which was his push to hike income tax rates on the state's wealthiest citizens.

Dayton says in an AP interview that he did his very best but says Republican opposition made it difficult to accomplish all he wanted. He says he's proud of accomplishing speed-ups in state business permitting and cost-savings in health care spending.

Some fellow Democrats say Dayton should have been tougher with Republicans, but the governor says compromise was essential to keep government functioning.