Minnesota Legislator Apologizes For Capitol Comment - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Minnesota Legislator Apologizes For Capitol Comment

Last month Minnesota House Republican majority leader Matt Dean made a comment that caught a lot of attention across the country, calling North Dakota's capitol embarrassing and that it looked like an insurance building.

Thursday Republican Minnesota Legislator Michael Beard came to tour the building with Governor Jack Dalrymple and apologized for the comment made. Beard said that Dean sometimes says whatever comes to his mind. Beard was in town for the oil conference and was excited to have a tour of the capitol.

"Very grateful that Governor Dalrymple had a few moments to work me into his schedule and at least let this legislator and the small circle of influence I have say sorry about the comment and actually we do admire North Dakota, our cousins in North Dakota we admire you very much, probably just a little bit jealous of your success over here but like the Governor said it's kind of like teasing your sister, at the end of the day you love her dearly and you wish the best," Minnesota Legislator Michael Beard said.

Beard also says he's grateful for what North Dakota is doing to keep the economy moving in a positive direction, and that he actually admires the capitol building.

"It's an amazing structure, I'm a pilot, I'm a map guy so I love heights so your 18 floors just blows me away, If I was working in this capitol I'd probably ask for an office above the 16th floor just so I could enjoy the view," Beard said.

The remark that Dean made about North Dakota's Capitol came up during a debate about how Minnesota was going to pay for renovations on their own Capitol building.