Minnesota House Democrats working remotely as Republican Party holds sessions without them • Minnesota Reformer

Judy Moe walked into a Richfield Caribou Coffee Wednesday morning ready to air her grievances and advocate for disability rights to her state representative, presenting him with a copy of a printed agenda she created for the 45-minute meeting titled “Meeting with State Rep. Michael.” Howard 1-15-25.

Moe, whose daughter is in a wheelchair, speaks regularly with Howard, who has been his representative in the House for six years. Howard started the conversation by asking her how she was preparing for Minnesota’s legislative session — during which she often testifies on bills presented to lawmakers — and how she was feeling as President-elect Donald Trump would soon enter office. function.

She grabbed her planner – much of which detailed her concerns about budget cuts to disability services – and pointed to a line highlighted in yellow: “I’m terrified!!!!!!” Federal and State Level!!!!”

Howard’s Caribou meeting is one of several meetings that House Democrats hold with their constituents in lieu of their usual work this time of year, when they typically wander the halls of the Capitol, attend committee hearings, are approached by lobbyists and sit for long sessions. ground sessions.

But this year, Democrats are staying away from the Capitol, at least until the end of the month. That’s when a special election in northern Metro District 40B is expected to bring in another Democratic-Farmer-Labor member and bring the chamber to a tie, 67-67. By denying Republicans a quorum — the minimum number of lawmakers needed to conduct business in the House — Democrats hope to prevent the Republican Party from establishing control. They also sought to block Republicans from refusing to seat Rep. Brad Tabke, a Shakopee Democrat who was re-elected by 14 votes in a contested District 54A election.

In the meantime, they can only hope that constituent meetings like Howard’s will deflect this week from a barrage of attacks from Republicans and their allies, who criticize Democrats for their absence from the Capitol.

The GOP-aligned group Renew Minnesota released a statement: “As Minnesota families worked hard to provide for their loved ones, House Republicans showed up at the Capitol ready to serve. They got to work… But where were the DFL legislators? Absent. Reported missing. Refusal to appear on the first day of the 2025 legislative session.”

The group included the names, email addresses and work phone numbers of Democratic House members in the battleground district, along with a script detailing what to say.

On Tuesday, Secretary of State Steve Simon opened the session as the statutorily mandated chairman. He said 67 members were not enough to achieve quorum and adjourned the session. But Republicans, acting with their temporary 67-66 majority, went ahead and elected their own chairwoman, Rep. Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, and committee chairs.

“I was watching what the Republicans were doing (Tuesday) from my computer at home. What I kept thinking was, ‘It doesn’t have to be this way,'” Howard said. “My mood ranges from frustration to anger to sadness, but also determination that we are doing the right thing for the people of Minnesota.”

Unable to use a House microphone, Howard took to social media: “Just as (Donald) Trump tried to overturn an election he lost, Minnesota House Republicans are too,” Howard tweeted Tuesday.

“And just as Donald Trump failed, they too will fail. While Republicans play the House, Democrats stand with the people and will prevent this abuse of power.” House Democrats and Simon appealed to the Minnesota Supreme Court, asking the justices to rule that Republicans are unable to elect a president or conduct any other business without 68 members present. The High Court will hear oral arguments on January 23.

“I didn’t get this job so I couldn’t be there.”

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter began his meeting Tuesday with seven members of St. Paul’s House delegation — all Democrats — by wooing them with glasses of the mayor’s water.

“Hydration is super important. Honestly, those are the things you forget during the session,” Carter told the group. DFL lawmakers noted that St. Paul’s water is now safer because they passed a law funding the removal of lead pipes statewide.

Rep. Athena Hollins, DFL-St. Paul, said one of his constituents was not happy.

“He said to me: ‘I have been drinking water from lead pipes for 25 years and everything is fine with me! “, Hollins recalls.

Before having to head to a virtual caucus meeting, lawmakers heard Carter’s quick pitch: The state should spend public money to renovate the Xcel Energy Center for the Minnesota Wild and give tax breaks to developers who are transforming old offices in downtown St. Paul. in residential buildings.

Only Rep. María Isa Pérez-Vega referenced the DFL House boycott, and only subtly: “We’re kind of doing historic things here. »

Hollins, who served as majority whip for two years, later said her constituents supported her staying away from the Capitol to stop what she called a “GOP takeover “.

“I’m disappointed. I didn’t get into this position to not be at the Capitol and not work,” Hollins said. “I want to work with the other side of the aisle and it’s disappointing that we can’t achieve that. a resolution that is fair and respects the will of all voters, so for me, it’s a little heartbreaking.”

Rep. Dave Pinto, DFL-St. Paul, said he received mixed messages from his constituents about his absence.

“I’m still in contact with voters in all kinds of ways and I can set up meetings with voters in the community and continue to do that,” Pinto said.

While away from the Capitol, Howard took to X to criticize his Republican colleagues. He said he was more active on social media because of the unprecedented session.

Howard acknowledges that the boycott strained his relations with his Republican colleagues. He’s trying to preserve his personal relationships, including with Rep. Spencer Igo, R-Wabana Township, with whom he hopes to co-chair the housing committee.

“Obviously, I wish I could have been at the Capitol and we would have worked together and started the session in a much more productive way,” Howard said. “But in terms of making lemonade from lemons, we find ways to do things that we hope will be useful in the long run for the session.”