In a great victory for the Democrats of the Minnesota Chamber on Friday, the Supreme Minnesota Court ruled that 68 members of the Chamber were to be present for a quorum, which means that the lower chamber had no official procedure during ‘A democratic boycott.
The Republicans of the Chamber have gathered since the opening of the session on January 14, when they elected a speaker and awarded committee chairs even if they had only 67 members present.
The Democrats of the Minnesota Chamber and the Secretary of State of Minnesota, Steve Simon – who was the president of the president on January 14, said the absence of a quorum and adjourned – continued the Republicans of the Chamber and asked to The Supreme Court to note that the Republicans could not lead any company without 68 members present. On the first day of session, on January 14, the 66 Democrats in the Chamber boycotted the session – and remained away from the Capitol since – to prevent the Republicans from taking control of the Chamber.
The Supreme Court, in a three -page order with an official opinion to follow on a later date, agreed with Simon.
“We also argue that, under Article IV, section 13, of the Minnesota Constitution, which requires that” (a) the majority of each house constitutes a quorum to transform business “, a quorum requires a majority of the total number of seats of each house, ”ordered the court. “Vacant posts do not reduce the required number so that the majority of each house is a quorum.”
The judges, all appointed by Democratic governors, said that their “resolution as to the meaning of the quorum clause of the Minnesota Constitution should be sufficient to resolve the questions raised by petitions.”
It is not known if the Democrats will return to the room of the House on Monday.
The chief of the Democratic Chamber, Melissa Hortman – assuming that she can keep her united caucus – can now threaten to keep retaining a quorum unless the chief of the republican chamber Lisa Demuth does not accept to negotiate a sharing agreement to be able.
Hortman said the Republicans were to return to the negotiating table.
“The Republicans tried to grasp the power that the voters did not give them. Now that it is clear that the Republicans must work with the Democrats for the room to work, I hope that we can quickly negotiate an acceptable path, “said Hortman. “We are ready to roll up our sleeves and return immediately to the negotiation table.”
Hortman, at a press conference on Friday, said that she had invited Demuth to start negotiating on Friday evening but had not heard.
In a statement, Demuth said it was time for the Democrats to return, but did not close on any new negotiations.
“This decision means that the Democrats of the Chamber did not only respect their own voters, but the whole state of Minnesota by refusing to do their job,” said Demuth. “The Republicans of the Chamber will come to work on Monday – it is time for the Democrats’ raising to end and that the Legislative Assembly continues its work.”
There is still an empty house seat, and Governor Tim Walz has not yet called another special election to fill it. Madd leader Melissa Hortman said she was planning that the special elections will take place on March 11. The headquarters are in the process of DFL, so that the special election should bring the chamber tied, 67-67.
The Democrats also feared that the Republicans use their temporary majority to refuse to assemble the representative of the DFL Brad Tabke, who won his Southern Metro elections by 14 votes during a competition spoiled by 20 missing voting bulletins.
Hortman said that she had not received a republican confirmation that they will refrain from overthrowing Tabke, a Shakopee Democrat. A judge last week ruled that despite the missing voting ballots, Tabke would still have won and there is no need for special elections. Demuth previously said that his caucus would not sit at the tabke without making a tabolet.
In a statement, Simon said he would summon the house on Monday.
“I thank the court for its speed and clarity in this case. It was a closely disputed legal issue, and for the first time in state history, we now have a final response on what constitutes a legislative quorum, “said Simon. “I can’t wait to go up the House of Representatives – and work with an organized legislature to advance the interests of all minnesotans.”
