ST. PAUL — Gov. Mark Dayton said Thursday he believes President Barack Obama made the right decision by letting insurance companies continue to offer health plans to their customers that were set to be canceled under federal health care changes.

Dayton said at a news conference that Obama “deserves great credit for keeping his promise to the American people.” He said Obama’s one-year extension would give consumers more time to make the right decisions about health insurance.

The prospect of insurance plans cancellations as a result of the federal health overhaul had generated growing criticism in recent days.