Minnesota House Democrats boycott first day of session amid bitter power dispute as GOP moves forward without them
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Half the Minnesota House stood empty at the start of the legislative session on Tuesday, after Democrats didn't show up amid a bitter power dispute with Republicans over who can and should control the chamber.
Their absence marked the latest rift in a partisan divide that's deepened over the last few weeks. Republicans were present on day one, but Democrats delivered on their promise to boycott the session in an effort to deny GOP lawmakers the ability to do anything with the one-seat majority they have, at least for now.
But Republicans moved forward anyway, electing GOP Leader Lisa Demuth as the Speaker of the House and conducting other House business in a move DFL leaders condemned as a "sham" and an "attempted coup." The whole clash at the capitol is likely headed to the state Supreme Court to weigh in.
"We are working for the people of Minnesota. There could have been 133 people in the chamber today. Unfortunately, 66 chose to stay home," Demuth told reporters. "This was very serious work. We don't take that lightly and we're proud to serve our constituents and the rest of the people in the state."
The conflict over power in the chamber began after a judge in an election contest ruled the DFL winner of a Roseville seat did not live in the district at the time of the election, shifting what was a tied chamber after November's election to 67 to 66 edge for Republicans. There is now a special election to fill that seat scheduled for Jan. 28.
Republicans said the ruling gave them a majority, while Democrats insisted that it would likely be temporary following the special election so both parties should agree to a power-sharing agreement that had been previously working on. Leaders were meeting to find common ground as late as the final hours before the session began Tuesday, but negotiations broke down and they didn't reach a deal.
So when the clock struck noon Tuesday, Democrats weren't there. DFL Secretary of State Steve Simon presided over the House chamber, as state law requires for that role until a Speaker is chosen. He determined that there were not 68 members present for a quorum, the minimum number of members required to conduct business, and moved to adjourn — a decision that Republicans say exceeds his authority.
They appointed their own presiding officer, Rep. Paul Anderson, who overruled Simon's ruling about quorum and declared the 67 GOP members present met that threshold because of the vacancy. On a 67-0 vote, Republicans then elected Lisa Demuth speaker of the House.
Democrats accused Republicans of unlawfully seizing power and vowed to take the issue to court. Rep. Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, in a news conference in Shakopee said there would be lawsuits filed as early as Wednesday challenging the House Republicans' actions on the first day.
"Republicans did not have a quorum. The Secretary of State had the authority to call the House to order. They completely ignored that and engaged in a sham proceeding unlike anything we could have imagined or have ever seen before," Hortman said.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Senate on Tuesday stood in stark contrast to the House: The chamber had a smooth start after leaders in both parties struck a power-sharing deal following the death of DFL Sen. Kari Dziedizic late last month. That shifted the DFL's one-seat majority to an equally split chamber.
Their agreement has the DFL and GOP co-governing until someone else fills the seat in that special election, also scheduled for Jan. 28, the same day as the House special election for the Roseville seat.
It's unclear how Wednesday will play out in the state House. Hortman said Democrats will continue to boycott the session and not show up in St. Paul until a deal is reached. They fear without one, Republicans will take action to unseat DFL Rep. Brad Tabke, despite a judge's ruling in a court challenge to his Shakopee seat that his election was valid.
"They have their own ball of wax over there with the issues they're dealing with — different power structures, different personalities," said GOP Senate Leader Mark Johnson of what's happening in the other chamber. "God bless them. I hope they can reach something soon because that's what Minnesotans are looking for."
