ST. PAUL 鈥� Republicans passed a resolution Wednesday asking Gov. Tim Walz to direct the Minnesota State Patrol to 鈥渓ocate鈥� House Democrats who are boycotting the Legislature.
The resolution, proposed by Leader Rep. Harry Niska, R-Ramsey, passed during the House鈥檚 fourth floor session without Democrats present. It asks that Walz give the order to the Patrol no later than Thursday, Jan. 23, at 3 p.m.
ADVERTISEMENT
Representatives from Walz's office declined to comment on the matter Wednesday. Walz has previously stated that he is with the House Democrats鈥� boycott.
Outside the doors of the House Chamber on Wednesday, protestors held signs that read 鈥淩espect the will of the voters,鈥� 鈥淪eat Tabke鈥� and 鈥淥nly the weak grab power.鈥�
House Republicans have refused to seat Rep. Brad Tabke, DFL-Shakopee, after a recount and lawsuit resulted in Tabke being declared the winner in the election. House Leader Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, said refusing to seat Tabke was the tipping point for Democrats, who decided to boycott the session, which began on Jan. 14.
In response, Republicans said they are still considering using their 67 votes to unseat Tabke, should Democrats return.
House leader Jamie Long, DFL-Minneapolis, told the press throughout the first week of the session that Republicans are engaging in an 鈥渁ttempted coup.鈥� Democrats are arguing that of 68 members, and therefore should not be legally conducting House business with 67 Republicans and none of the 66 Democrats present.
A hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 23, before the Minnesota Supreme Court, where both house caucuses will for what they see as a 鈥渜uorum.鈥� But the opinion of the Supreme Court may not resolve the House Democrats鈥� boycott, as Hortman said Democrats will still ask for security that Tabke be seated.
On top of seating Tabke, Democrats are arguing that the is likely to return the House to a tie warrants a power-sharing agreement. Roseville鈥檚 special election is expected to occur in early March, according to spokespeople from Walz鈥檚 office.
ADVERTISEMENT
Democrats have offered House Republicans an operational majority 鈥� which includes speakership and control of committees until a special election 鈥� if Republicans agree to return to a tie, but Republicans turned down the offer.
In a House committee hearing on Tuesday, Jan. 21, more protesters disrupted House Republicans, shouting 鈥淪top the coup!鈥� over a megaphone, hurling profanities and insults at Republican lawmakers. Hortman condemned the actions publicly the next day.
鈥淚 denounce the actions of disrupting meetings,鈥� Hortman said in a statement on Wednesday. 鈥淭he State Capitol is a place where people should visit and make their voices heard. However, individuals should not disrupt meetings. Such actions are counterproductive to effectively delivering a message to legislators.鈥�
The Trust Project
