Minnesota courts ask lawmakers to figure out control over ‘dysfunctional’ house

The Minnesota Supreme Court on Friday threw the question of who controls the Minnesota House back to House leaders to figure out.

In a three-page order, the justices answered a key question — it takes 68 votes in the House for a quorum — but they declined to go ahead and order a specific resolution to the impasse that has kept the House in limbo for more than a week.

The justices wrote that they “assume that the parties will now comply with this opinion without the need to issue a formal subpoena,” or demand from the court, leaving it to house managers who have so far been unable to be agree on how they should organize and conduct business. .

The statement doesn’t negate anything Republicans have done so far in the House with their 67 votes, including choosing their leader as speaker for this session. This could mean that further conflicts are ahead in the narrowly divided chamber.

The Supreme Court heard arguments Thursday in challenges to the interim leadership of House Republicans amid a Democratic boycott. Republicans argued that any intervention by the court would amount to a “hostile takeover.”

In her hearing Thursday, Chief Justice Natalie Hudson suggested the current political environment was unprecedented.

“What we have is a co-equal branch of government that is completely dysfunctional, that is not carrying out the will and work of the people of Minnesota,” Hudson said.

Will there be more conflicts?

Republican and Democratic leaders have said they will accept the court’s decision, but given the lack of direction on other components, conflicts could arise.

House GOP Leader Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, said Republicans would show up again at the Capitol on Monday and expected Democrats to do the same, given the ruling.

“This decision drives home the fact that House Democrats disrespect not only their own constituents, but the entire state of Minnesota by refusing to do their jobs,” Demuth said in a statement. legislature to get on with its work.”

DFL Leader Melissa Hortman of Brooklyn Park said the ruling should force leaders back to the table to discuss a power-sharing deal.

“Republicans tried to seize power that the voters did not give them,” Hortman. “Now that it is clear that Republicans must work with Democrats to make the House work, I hope we will soon be able to negotiate an acceptable path forward. We are ready to roll up our sleeves and get back to the negotiating table immediately.'”

Republicans and Democrats came out of the November election tied 67-67. But Democrats lost a seat to a court ruling that said a prospective member didn’t live where he said he did.

Last week, when the chamber came in to begin legislative session, 67 Republicans showed up and elected Demuth as speaker after DFL Secretary of State Steve Simon adjourned the chamber, saying there weren’t enough members present to conduct business , and argued that 68 were necessary.

Democrats have stayed away from the Capitol to deprive Republicans of the votes they need to reach a quorum. They said they did not want Republicans to hold control for two years when their advantage could be temporary.

DFL leaders also raised scrutiny over Republican leaders’ comments about not sitting Rep. Brad Tabke. Tabke narrowly won a Shakopee-area seat, and a judge ruled that his victory was legitimate, even though 20 ballots were cast but never counted and later discarded.

Aaron Paul, the Republican candidate challenging the ruling, announced Friday that he would not seek an appeal. But that doesn’t quite settle the question.

The legislature is the final arbiter of who can sit in the chamber. So Republicans could still choose not to let Tabke take the seat. Legislators cannot cast votes on questions about them.

This is a developing news story. Check back for updates.