JUST IN: Gov. Mark Dayton collapsed while discussing the importance of healthcare during his annual

[MASTERBAKER]

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton collapses while delivering state address

• 
  
• Tweet
• email

Nicole Hensley
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Updated: Monday, January 23, 2017, 9:50 PM

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton collapsed while discussing the importance of healthcare during his State of the State address at the St. Paul capitol building on Monday.

Dayton fell to the ground after pausing to take a sip of water about 40 minutes into the talk. The 69-year-old was slurring his speech moments before the apparent medical emergency.

“Get him to the ground,” said one person, who was captured on an open microphone while rushing to help the second-term Democrat.

A camera in the House Chambers continued to roll as lawmakers gasped and stood up in their seats. A handful of state staffers and politicians crowded around Dayton behind a podium.

Here's why Tom Brady's friendship with Trump is 'a big deal'

The Pioneer Press reports he stood up minutes later, waved at state lawmakers and walked into a backroom.

The Minnesota Legislature was adjourned until Thursday afternoon.

At the start of his address, Dayton stumbled while walking to the podium.

Moments before he collapsed, Dayton praised the threatened Affordable Care Act — but acknowledged its caveats.

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton collapsed Monday night at the House Chambers in St. Paul.
(Glen Stubbe/AP)
“Too many others have learned, contrary to the promises of the Affordable Care Act, they can not keep their doctors under any available new plan,” Dayton said. “Those failures of the ACA are having devastating effects on the lives of many Minnesotans.”

His body faltered while explaining increasing health care premiums for the owners of the Irish-Ridge Dairy in Millville.

Dayton’s son, Eric Dayton, said his father is “doing great” and working on a puzzle with his 3-year-old grandson.

“Thank you all for your kind well-wishes and words of concern,” he tweeted shortly after the elder Dayton collapsed.

Dayton fainted at a private event in Feb. 2016 and was hospitalized overnight as a precaution. His staff blamed overheating and dehydration.

The governor turns 70 on Thursday.

 

[thoughtone]

source: CNN


Minnesota governor says he has prostate cancer

(CNN)Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and will undergo either radiation or surgery for treatment, he announced Tuesday at the state Capitol.

Dayton revealed the information while taking questions from journalists following the state government budget proposal. They asked if a health condition caused him to collapse Monday while delivering the annual State of the State address.
"I will ... in the interest of full disclosure say that I learned last week -- I had a biopsy -- that I do have prostate cancer," he said.
Dayton, 69, said doctors say it appears the cancer has not extended beyond his prostate and he was optimistic he would recover. He planned to receive treatment at the Mayo Clinic.

"I know Secretary of State John Kerry had prostate surgery a few years ago and he's been flying all over the world so I don't expect this other than for a very short time to impede my performance and my responsibilities," he said.
Dayton said he didn't have a strong memory of collapsing Monday.
The governor was addressing lawmakers Monday night in St. Paul when he paused for a sip of water. He briefly resumed speaking -- touting the success of the Affordable Care Act and MNSure, the state's health care marketplace -- before he slumped onto the lectern.

Video of Monday's speech shows aides rushing to catch Dayton as he sinks toward the floor.
On Tuesday he recalled the experience.
"I started to think, 'I'm having problems here,' and it just came up on me before I could do anything about it. The speech was too long, I learned that lesson," he said to laughter.
EMTs performed a routine check of the governor at the Capitol and cleared him to leave, said Jaime Tincher, his chief of staff.

Officials from both sides of the aisle were quick to offer their support.
"He's a tough old bird," state Rep. Melissa Hortman told WCCO-TV. "As everybody in Minnesota knows, he's a former goalie, so he's suffered hits before and bounced back."
In a statement Monday, state House Speaker Kurt Daudt said, "Gov. Dayton is in my thoughts and prayers tonight. I was encouraged to see him walk from the House chamber on his own, and I join Minnesotans in wishing him a speedy recovery."
CNN's Carma Hassan, Dave Alsup, Jason Hanna and Jamiel Lynch contributed to this report.