In the past, Dayton has said his administration has the authority to move forward on an exchange, a process that he has delegated to a broad task force charged with making recommendations and studying its implementation.

DFL House representatives Erin Murphy and Tom Huntley have filed a friend-of-the-court brief defending the federal health care law.

Every GOP state legislator has signed a letter urging Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson to file a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the federal health care bill. Republicans argue that the legislation violates the constitution by requiring individuals to have health insurance or face a financial penalty.