House DFL boycott enters third week as court ruling freezes Republicans from action

House DFL boycott enters third week as court ruling freezes Republicans from action

A State Supreme Court ruling has effectively shut down the GOP from being able to operate in the chamber without Democrats present.

SAINT PAUL, Minn. — The House DFL's boycott of the chamber entered a third week Monday, as all 66 members of the caucus skipped a floor session in continued protest of the GOP's plans to organize with a temporary, one-seat majority.

For the past few weeks, the 67 House Republicans had pressed forward with their agenda on the floor despite the DFL's attempts to deny quorum, by introducing legislation and passing resolutions. However, on Monday, the Republicans were frozen from taking any action after the Minnesota Supreme Court clarified questions about quorum and officially set the legal number at 68 -- one short of the GOP's current membership.

Secretary of State Steve Simon, who moved to adjourn the House without a quorum on the first day of the session Jan. 14 but was challenged on his interpretation by Republicans, returned to preside over the chamber in light of the new Supreme Court ruling. Simon oversaw a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a moment of silence for Holocaust Remembrance Day, before taking roll and determining that the 67 members present did not reach a quorum of 68 out of 134 total seats.

The House then adjourned, and GOP leadership abided by the decision as promised, although one member did shout that Simon was conducting a "sham" by interfering with the affairs of the legislative branch.

In a press conference on the floor afterward, GOP House Leader Rep. Lisa Demuth (R - Cold Spring) and Rep. Harry Niska (R - Ramsey) again demanded that Democrats return to the capitol.

"House Republicans, now on Week Three, are here to do the work that we have been elected to do by the people of Minnesota," Demuth said. "We will continue doing that."

Niska said he hoped to introduce a resolution compelling absent members back to House chambers and taking away their salaries if they fail to show, but he said Simon told him he would not be allowed to introduce that motion without a quorum. The GOP maintains that a portion of the state constitution allows a "smaller number" of legislators without a quorum to "compel the attendance of absent members in the manner and under the penalties it may provide." Niska said he would explore legal options related to the Secretary of State's role, potentially to the State Supreme Court.

"The State Supreme Court helped contribute to this mess," Niska said. "They might have to clean it up."

In a virtual press conference away from the capitol on Monday, House DFL Leader Rep. Melissa Hortman of Brooklyn Park said the Supreme Court's decision last week "was really, really important to at least get the Republicans to the point where they're back at the negotiating table." She said she had discussions with Rep. Demuth all weekend, as well as Monday morning, and have made some progress.

"I think, little by little, we're getting there," Hortman said.

However, Hortman said she's still seeking a full power-sharing agreement for when the House presumably goes back to a tie following the special election in House District 40B, which will likely occur in March. Also, she continues to demand assurances that Republicans do not try to use House authority to unseat DFL Rep. Brad Tabke, whose election was upheld by a judge earlier this month.

"Certainly, the biggest hang-up is that the Minnesota House DFL would like to operate under the power-sharing agreement that we negotiated, once we return to a tie," Hortman said, "and the Minnesota House Republicans would like to continue to run the House as though they had a majority after we're tied at 67-67."

The next House floor session is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. After the Supreme Court ruled that the Republicans had no quorum, all committee meetings in the House have been canceled until further notice.

SOURCE: KARE 11