Minnesota House Republicans’ refusal to guarantee they’ll seat the fairly elected Rep. Brad Tabke, DFL-Shakopee, should be viewed for what it is: an undemocratic power grab. Democratic-Farmer-Labor lawmakers are right to do everything they can to thwart it.
Thankfully, on January 24, the Minnesota Supreme Court backed the DFL House caucus, ruling that Republicans’ attempt to seize control of the the Minnesota House without a quorum violated the state Constitution, with the six justices ruling unanimously that 68 members of the House must be present in order to conduct business.
Everything that has happened in the chamber and committee rooms, at taxpayer expense, since Jan. 14, is at the end of the day smoke and mirrors to distract from the truth that Republicans don’t have quorum, didn’t really elect a speaker, and can’t pass legislation that would pass constitutional muster.
House DFL members have been focused on working directly with constituents in their districts and are ready to bring that important work back to the Capitol.
But first, Republicans must stop trying to overturn an election they lost and agree to seat Tabke. And, they must share power once the House returns to a 67-67 tie — as expected — after a special election in District 40B.
In the first days of the second Trump administration, many of us are asking ourselves, “Can he really do that?” Can he really block funding appropriated by Congress? Can he really fire agency inspectors general, FBI staff, and civil service employees without cause? Can he really declare by fiat that certain Americans born in America — like me — are not American citizens?
The answer to all of those is, yes, he can do it for a day, he can do it for a week, but when something is against the law and against the Constitution, eventually the slow gears of justice will work their will. If they don’t, it will be too late.
By seeking to grab power without an electoral mandate, Rep. Lisa Demuth and the House GOP are trying something similar.
But the courts have already ruled here in Minnesota against GOP lawlessness. First, a judge ruled that Tabke’s victory, however close, was legitimate. Then the Minnesota Supreme Court made its ruling that Republicans cannot elect a speaker without 68 present in the House. We are not through the looking glass here in Minnesota. Up is not down and down is not up.
Now, Republicans are wasting still more time and resources by launching another frivolous lawsuit in search of power the voters didn’t grant them.
On the other side of the Minnesota Capitol, the DFL-controlled Minnesota Senate will not accept House Republicans’ bills, no matter how many mock sessions they run. For our bicameral Legislature to pass any budget or bills, Republicans will need to accept reality and enter into a power-sharing agreement with House DFL members as the voters asked for when they elected a 67-67 House.
Republicans need to return to the negotiating table so that we can govern together as Minnesota voters chose on Election Night. DFL members are ready to roll up their sleeves and get to the negotiating table immediately.
At stake is the state budget. Millions of Minnesotans are relying on the Legislature to pass a budget by June 30 to fund schools, public safety, roads, health care, parks and aid to their cities and counties for the next two years. If the Legislature doesn’t pass a budget by June 30 and forces a government shutdown, the blame will solely rest with Rep. Lisa Demuth and the House GOP for the time they wasted playing pretend with the gavel.