Dayton Takes Heat For Early Departure

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Mark Dayton is taking heat for avoiding reporters with questions about a key insurance provider's exit from the state's health care exchange.

The Star Tribune reported Thursday the state asked PreferredOne to offer lower rates for policies in the exchange's first year. The company wound up with nearly 60 percent of plans but announced last month it was leaving the exchange next year because it couldn't sustain a profit.

Dayton was expected to field questions after an event Thursday afternoon in St. Paul, but left midway through.

Campaign spokesman Linden Zakula says Dayton's administration did not pressure PreferredOne to drop rates in order to tout low costs through the exchange, as Republicans have suggested. His campaign wouldn't comment on why Dayton left.