The MN House GOP moves forward without an official quorum as the DFL skips Day 1

On By Littum

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – Amid a partisan power struggle, DFL members skipped the first day of the legislative session when the Minnesota House adjourned Tuesday. That didn’t stop Republicans from going ahead with business, even without an official quorum.

What happened in MN House?

Timeline:

DFL seats were empty when Secretary of State Steve Simon tried to start the session at noon.

Simon says the House needs 68 members for a quorum — the minimum number of lawmakers needed to conduct business. If there are not enough members, the legislators cannot hold the session. GOP members dispute Simon’s assessment. They believe that since Parliament is one member down, 67 members are enough to do business.

At noon Parliament attempted to meet. Foreign Minister Simon opened the proceedings, and a roll call was held.

  • 12:27 p.m.: The oath of office was held for the members present.
  • 12:28 p.m.: A second roll call was held to determine a quorum. Again with 67 members present.
  • 12:29 p.m.: Foreign Minister Simon declared that business cannot proceed without a quorum. He then adjourned the session. GOP members did not leave.
  • 12:30 p.m.: The GOP members contested the lack of a quorum and chose to let Rep. Paul Anderson (District 12A) – the oldest member – led the House.
  • 12:31 p.m.: GOP members then voted to override Simon’s ouster and held another roll call.
  • 12:33 p.m.: Rep. Anderson stated that a quorum is present with 67 members.
  • 12:56 p.m.: GOP members voted Rep. Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) in as speaker.
  • 12:56 p.m.: DFL members issued a statement calling the GOP lawsuit “an illegal sham.” The DFL says the GOP does not have a quorum and has no legal authority to conduct business.
  • 13:13: House members voted on the rules of the chamber.
  • 13:20: GOP members adjourned the House session again.

DFL reacts to GOP actions

What they say:

When Republican members voted to elect a speaker, the DFL said in a statement that the GOP acted illegally. The statement reads:

“What the Republicans are doing on the House floor right now is an illegal sham with no legal authority. Secretary of State Steve Simon adjourned the session after finding that there was not a quorum of 68 members required to conduct House business. All that that has happened after Minister Simon Adjourned today’s session is a fake DFL speaker, Hortman will have more to say about this at today’s press conference.

DFL members plan to hold a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

Power struggle in the Minnesota House

The backstory:

After Election Day, the Minnesota House was slated to be an even split in membership between the DFL and the GOP at 67-67.

But a court ruling left the winner of House District 40B (Roseville/Shoreview), removing a DFL member. A special election is scheduled for later this month to fill that seat. But the empty seat leaves the GOP with a one-seat advantage. Given the electorate of the district when the special election takes place, it is very likely that the seat will remain blue.

DFL members took an early oath of office Sunday — a ceremony Republicans have called illegal and illegitimate — as a contingency if members did not show up Tuesday.

Fight for control of MN House

Big picture:

Democrats are urging Republican members to agree to a power-sharing deal. If no agreement is reached, DFL members vowed to skip the start of the session.

If DFL members don’t show up, that would leave Republicans without a quorum, meaning lawmakers couldn’t move forward with business. However, there have been questions about what constitutes quorum. Secretary of State Steve Simon said last week that he believes lawmakers need at least 68 members to hold a session. But because the Legislature is non-member, the GOP believes they only need 67 members to meet the minimum threshold.

GOP threatens to try to recall DFL members if they don’t show up for work.

Why it’s important:

If the Republicans have a majority at the beginning of the session – even if it is temporary – they can set leadership tasks for the next two years that the Democrats would not be able to change. That would allow GOP lawmakers to guide the legislation in committee, even if the DFL adds another member to balance the numbers.

Democrats are trying to thwart that advantage by not showing up on Tuesday, delaying the start of the session.

The other side:

In the Minnesota Senate, where the majority is also divided between the DFL and the GOP, the session started as expected. Over the weekend, Senate members announced a power-sharing deal to move forward.

PolitikSt. Paul