With the 2025 Minnesota legislative session slated to begin today at Noon, the question remains whether or not DFL House members will follow through on a threat to sit out the first two weeks. When the idea was first broached, the Dems were reminded that they don't get paid if they aren't officially sworn in as legislators.
Nope. Those Democrats can't be paid if they're NOT sworn in to #mnleg. If they are not there to be sworn in on opening day the House Majority - who actually show up - can (will) vote to deem them as not Members. That's how the MN Law & Constitution is written. https://t.co/OwAuAiJYkK pic.twitter.com/ot9eBnwziV
— Sean Nienow (@SNienow) January 6, 2025
Their solution? Why, get sworn in out of the public view before session even begins, natch.
In an unprecedented action, House DFL members held a mass secret swearing in ceremony Sunday. The move comes as GOP officials threaten recall petitions if DFLers follow through on a threat to not show up for session on Tuesday in a power-sharing dispute with the House GOP. pic.twitter.com/iYkd2to7pX
— Tom Hauser (@thauserkstp) January 13, 2025
Look, this kinda thing wouldn't surprise me were it executed by House members in Minneapolis & St. Paul districts as well as reps in solid blue first-ring suburban areas. But literally all 66 House DFLers (including a DFLer whose "victory" is still in a legal dispute) went along with this, even those who barely won races in swing districts that could easily tilt the other way in 2026. Not only would this appear to be political suicide, but its legality is also in serious question.
https://t.co/Xg3UE6CW65 pic.twitter.com/qliQuE032f
— MN House Republicans (@mnhousegop) January 13, 2025
In the end, none of this makes any sense. Even if the GOP miraculously won the special election in House District 40B or a possible new election in the disputed 54A (thus giving them a majority for at least the next two years), the governor's mansion will still be occupied by a Dem this next biennium. Any legislation that somehow made it to Gov. Tim Walz's desk would likely have significant bipartisan support due to a (likely) Dem controlled Senate and, at worst for the DFL, a slight GOP House majority. I mean, far be it from me to try to prevent Democrats from running into a sawblade, but there is just absolutely no upside to this.
We'll definitely check back in at Noon today.
UPDATE: DFL members don't show up. GOP moves forward with a quorum (Yes, 67 of 133 is a majority, thus a quorum) and elects the first ever African-American female Speaker of the House!
Constitutional crisis underway as @mnhousegop appoint Rep. Paul Anderson to preside over the chamber in Simon's absence. Declare SoS Simon's adjournment improper, and move on to electing @LisaDemuthMN as speaker. #mnleg pic.twitter.com/M7SBTi0H5D
— Rob Doar (@robdoar) January 14, 2025
---------------------------------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment