We’ve been following the standoff between Democrats and Republicans in the Minnesota House of Representatives. The winning Democratic candidate in a suburban metro district lied about his residence and got caught. He has been barred from taking office.
Facing a Republican majority of 67-66 until the special election that Governor Walz just called for March 11, Democrats arranged a secret swearing-in ceremony before the legislative session that commenced on January 14. The swearing-in ceremony allowed Democrats to get on the payroll, but they then refused to show up for work so as to deprive the Republicans of a quorum (as ultimately defined by the all-Democrat Minnesota Supreme Court) to organize the House for the session and otherwise to conduct business.
By contrast with their Democrat counterparts, Republicans have turned up at the Capitol every day while Democrats have absented themselves and pretended to work. The old USSR joke of the laboring class was “we pretend to work and the government pretends to pay us.” Minnesota Democrats have performed a variation of the joke. They pretend to work and we are compelled to pay them.
Turning up for work over the past week-plus, Democrat Secretary of State Steve Simon has adjourned the House every day while refusing to allow Republicans to avail themselves of their constitutional recourse against their absent colleagues. The Republicans brought a case against Simon that was to be heard by the Minnesota Supreme Court at 10:00 this morning.
Instead, Republicans have called a press conference at 10:00 to announce an agreement under which Democrats will return to work today. The agreement reportedly provides that House GOP leader Lisa Demuth will be House Speaker through 2026. Republicans will chair all House committees so long as they hold the 67-66 majority. If Democrats prevail in the special election, Democrats and Republicans will co-chair the committees.
The Republican Party chairman has issued a statement declaring victory. The party chairman doesn’t specify the price Democrats paid or the concessions Republicans made. I assume the recall campaign to which he refers below will be called off.
🚨 This only happened because of the overwhelming pressure from our grassroots movement. Thanks to our dedicated supporters, we sent a message that Minnesotans will not tolerate politicians skipping work while collecting a paycheck. pic.twitter.com/aOXsSNK5jP
— Republican Party of Minnesota (@mngop) February 6, 2025
The agreement provides that Republicans will abandon the case against seating Democrat Brad Tabke. Tabke’s election was cast into doubt when 20 ballots in his election were literally thrown out, Election style, and Tabke prevailed by 14 votes. His challenger’s post-election contest failed in court, but the House has the last word. Tracy Flick, call your office!
The agreement also provides for the creation of a House Fraud and Oversight Committee sought by Republicans. Such a committee has become a necessity in the Walz era. The hallmark of the Walz administration is mind-blowing fraud.
Scandal Tracker 2024
Updated#mnleg pic.twitter.com/U2h984JCYc— Bill Glahn (@billglahn) August 2, 2024
Under the status quo of the standoff, Democrats took their pay and refused to show up for work. It’s not a good look. The Democrats’ line on it has become increasingly farcical. This is a good example. Tabke is among the Democrats who hasn’t bothered to show up for work (more on Tabke below). Nothing but the DFL caucus kept Tabke from showing up for work. The caucus is silent on the the poll results for Tabke’s drawing his salary while sitting out the legislative session.
Rep. Brad Tabke received the most votes in Shakopee's election for state representative. He won on election night, in a recount, and in court. According to new polling from KSTP, most Minnesotans agree Rep. Tabke should be allowed to serve his term in office. pic.twitter.com/F9EP8FaY9R
— Minnesota House DFL Caucus (@mnhouseDFL) February 5, 2025
If the Democrats turned up for work, as noted above, Republicans would have organized the House for the duration of the session with Demuth as Speaker and Republican chairmen running the committees, even after the special election which is likely to place the parties at parity. This was intolerable to the Democrats. They would rather do as they have done than pay the price of their cheating candidate and live with Republicans in control.
By the same token, under the status quo of the standoff, Democrats would have to prevail in the Minnesota Supreme Court case that was to be heard this morning. Although the fate of the case is unclear as I write, I assume by the timing of the GOP press conference that Republicans will dismiss it. If not, they have in any event drained the stakes and/or mooted it. In the party statement posted above, the chairman asks the Democrats to return their unearned pay.
In exchange for the Republican concession to share power with the Democrats if Democrats win the special election on March 11, Democrats have agreed to show up for work starting today. Republicans are letting Democrats out of the absurd public-relations box they created for themselves.
Republicans aren’t coming away with much they wouldn’t otherwise get. Demuth’s unabridged speakership has to be written on the other side of the ledger, as does the new House fraud committee (on which Republicans have been ceded a majority). It’s a judgment call. In my judgment Republicans are letting Democrats return from the far end of the limb on which they have crawled out without paying a fair price.
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