Key Takeaways:
• Minnesota House is at a standstill due to the continued boycott by 66 House Democrats.
• Democrats are avoiding a return to the Capitol to prevent Republicans from gaining control of the Chamber, fearing the unseating of Rep. Brad Tabke.
• The Minnesota Supreme Court previously ruled that the House requires 68 members for a quorum, leaving the 67 House Republicans unable to operate without their Democratic counterparts.
• Now, House Republicans are appealing to the Supreme Court to compel Democratic return.
• This legislative deadlock significantly impacts the progress on major tasks including the passage of a two-year, $60+ billion budget.
The legislative scenario at Minnesota House is nothing short of a drama. For the past three weeks, all 66 House Democrats have been absent from the Capitol, creating a stifle for the legislative session. Why the boycott, you ask? Simply put, they wish to deny the 67 Republicans a quorum, thus maintaining control over the chamber.
Democrats Raise Concerns
It’s not all about control, though. There’s more to this than meets the eye. If the Democrats return, it could give the Republicans the much-needed quorum. In such a scenario, a close but disputed election’s winner, Rep. Brad Tabke would face the risk of unseating by the GOP. It’s no wonder then that Democrats are mighty wary.
Supreme Court’s Earlier Verdict
Last month, the Minnesota Supreme Court stepped in to clarify a bit about this whole quorum situation. They said, plainly and simply, that the House needs 68 members for conducting business. With just 67 members, House Republicans find themselves falling short and are unable to function without their Democrat mates.
During this political turmoil, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon has taken on the responsibility of presiding over the chamber. However, his role has been limited to declaring the lack of a quorum, adjourning the five-minute sessions time and time again.
The New Appeal to the Supreme Court
Despite the Supreme Court’s clear verdict, House Republicans are knocking on their doors once more. Why, you might wonder? Well, as exciting as this whole tussle for power sounds, there’s one thing everyone wants – for things to get back to normal.
What Do the Republicans Want?
As straightforward as this sounds, Republicans are looking for one thing – the return of Democrats to the Capitol. They believe that obtaining a quorum will lead to electing Rep. Lisa Demuth as the speaker of the House. Add to this the fear among Democrats that GOP might unseat Tabke and trigger another election, which could tilt the scales in favor of Republicans.
For this plan to execute, Republicans need to pass a motion. But Simon, acting as the authority, has flatly refused to call on House Republicans to bring forth this motion. This has sparked a fresh row, leading to Republicans contesting Simon’s authority.
The Clash over Motions and Legislative Power
House Republicans are putting pressure on the Supreme Court to intervene and ensure Simon recognizes their motion. Their plan is to fine House Democrats an equivalent of their salary for their absence, and also cut off their daily expenses for the entire 2025-2026 session. But Simon was adamant in his stance, arguing that lack of a quorum leaves the House unorganized and unable to accept motions.
Despite heated arguments and the Supreme Court’s earlier verdict on quorum, the House’s control hangs in the balance. Meanwhile, the standoff is delaying critical tasks, like the passing of a crucial two-year, $60+ billion budget. Until a resolution is reached, the political wheel at Minnesota house is jammed, leaving Minnesotans waiting anxiously for the dust to settle.