Power Sharing Agreement Struck, Democrats to Return to the Capitol

(KNSI) – Members of the Minnesota House have struck a deal that finally brings Democrats back to the Capitol.

The DFL has boycotted the session since it started 23 days ago, upset over the GOP’s one-seat majority and hints they were not going to seat Democratic Representative Brad Tabke, who won by just 14 votes in an election that had already seen 20 absentee ballots go missing before they could be counted. They stayed away to deny Republicans a quorum and did not allow any work to get done.

The deal allows Representative Lisa Demuth (R, Cold Spring) to remain as House Speaker, and while Republicans have that one-seat majority, they will chair all committees. Democrats also received assurances Republicans will allow Tabke to be seated.

The chamber is expected to fall back into a tie after a special election in Democratic stronghold District 40B on March 11th. That is to fill a seat vacated following a judge’s decision to strip the winner of his victory when it was discovered the DFLer who won didn’t live in his district and lied on campaign forms.

If the balance of power returns to a tie, the parties will co-chair committees with an equal number on each. That means any bill out of committee would need bipartisan support.

As part of the 23-day boycott, DFL House members had themselves secretly sworn in two days before the session. Thus, they have been collecting taxpayer-funded paychecks the whole time, even without showing up at the Capitol. Democratic Representatives have insisted they are working and meeting with constituents since they’ve been away. Republicans have been meeting at the Capitol since the session started on January 14th, but their work has been in vain after the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled a quorum requires 68 members.

The rage against the lawmaker’s absence even prompted a response from local governments. On January 21st, the Benton County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution calling for St. Cloud Representative Dan Wolgamott and his Democratic colleagues to show up at the Capitol and fulfill their responsibilities.

The House session is scheduled to gavel into session at 3:30 on Thursday afternoon.

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