Summary
In Minnesota’s evenly split state House (67-67), Republicans have temporarily seized control by exploiting a judicial ruling that disqualified a Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) legislator, giving the GOP a 67-66 edge.
Despite the lack of quorum and an upcoming special election likely to restore the tie, Republicans unilaterally elected a speaker and are blocking another DFL candidate certified as the winner after a recount.
Critics label this a “coup,” reflecting broader trends of minority rule and disregard for democratic norms.
Legal challenges are underway to restore balance.
Wasn’t the Minnesota GOP on the brink of bankruptcy? I read about that a couple of years back.
The other really important part of this story that is not mentioned is in the MN state senate there is also a tie. The DFL and MN State Republicans parties have created a power sharing agreement there already. They have dual chairs of the committees, an agreement for how the parties will control the agenda and how bills will be introduced etc. So there is even a template to work off of that was already hammered out by the two parties.
Everyone knows that no matter what there will be bipartisan agreement because of the split senate and state house. Our DFL governor, everyone’s favorite Midwestern dad Tim Walz released his budget which includes tax cuts and reduction in total spending knowing that this is something that will need to happen. Everyone else is acting like adults but the house republicans. It’s a disgrace and completely invalidates the MN reputation of good governance which was something that both parties used to brag about.
Libs allow fascism through constant collaboration and worthless performative “resistance”.
Not just a modern issue, this applies historically as well.
Hitler didn’t get elected Chancellor; he was appointed by a liberal as an attempt at compromise.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/paul-von-hindenburg
Getting sick of this shit.
Patient of a saint right here.
We have a specific amendment that the right likes to shove in our faces as being designed to prevent tyranny.
It’s a goddamn shame we won’t use it.Some of us are. Luigi did.
Two people tried to use it against Trump, so far.
Same. NC is having similar issues with the legislature stripping some amount of power from the Democratic Governor who won, and the Republican judge who lost is challenging the Democrat winner by trying to argue in court that certain votes should be thrown out.
American democracy wasn’t exactly super functional, but this is genuinely fucked.
Removed by mod
Is there nothing the Governor can do in this situation? Or would it have to be the courts?
Typically, legislatures have broad latitude to organize committees and set up rules, by majority vote. Anything that is not mandated by existing legislation or the relevant Constitution is changeable if the body votes for it, and no other branch would get up in their business over it.
However, this case may be an exception:
It takes, by statute, 68 votes for a quorum and 68 votes to pass anything in the chamber. There’s no wiggle room here. When Democrats boycotted the opening session Tuesday, NBC News reported, “Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, who controls the chamber’s gavel between sessions, adjourned the state House and said there was no quorum.” The state House, legally, could not act. Nevertheless, in a half-empty chamber, the 67 Republicans plowed ahead and elected state Rep. Lisa DeMuth as the speaker.
That means there is a law that defines quorum for this body, which the Republicans purposely ignored to install a speaker. That Speaker election will, no doubt, be challenged in court. I’d be interested to know what the Republican justification is for this…
I’d be interested to know what the Republican justification is for this…
Oh, I have that here somehwere, let me see . . . uhh . . I think it’s under these papers here . . one second . . . ahhhhhh . . Yeah . . . yep . . .okay here it is. *ahem*
“We’re complete fucking assholes.”
The only justification that makes sense is “See that ‘R’ after our names? That’s why”. And some judges would allow that.
