Clash over control of Minnesota Capitol comes to a head on Day One
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The Minnesota Legislature gavels in at the State Capitol on Tuesday with just over five months to strike a bipartisan budget deal and avoid a state government shutdown.
- But first, they'll have to figure out who's actually in charge — and whether the House can function with roughly half its members boycotting the start of session.
The big picture: Minnesota's return to divided government after two years of full DFL control has been rocked by power shifts, partisan rancor and legal challenges.
- A failure to find common ground could delay or derail action on a looming $5 billion deficit, fraud prevention proposals and other issues that impact Minnesotans' daily lives.
Driving the day: All eyes are on the House, where Democrats have threatened a potentially quorum-blocking boycott because of a dispute with Republicans over who should control the chamber.
- Republicans say their current 67-66 edge should give them the reins, while Democrats argue that the strong likelihood of a special election bringing the chamber back to a rare tie by late January merits a power-sharing agreement.
The latest: DFL and GOP leaders met last night in an effort to avert a first-day-of-session stand-off. No deal was announced as of this morning.
Friction point: Secretary of State Steve Simon, who presides over the start of the noon session, says a quorum of 68 members is needed to conduct business.
- That could thwart the House GOP's plans to kick things off by taking control of both the speakership and committees with a temporary majority.
The other side: Republicans, who disagree with that interpretation, wrote Simon on Monday calling his stance "deeply flawed and dangerous."
Reality check: The state's Constitution and statutes leave room for interpretation, MinnPost pointed out.
Between the lines: Both sides have suggested they may challenge whatever happens Tuesday in court, with Republicans accusing Democrats of "lawless behavior" and Democrats alleging that the GOP is trying to seize control via a "kangaroo court."
The wild card: A judge still hasn't issued a ruling in a pending election challenge over missing ballots in Shakopee that could once again scramble the balance of power in the House.
- Whether to seat Rep. Brad Tabke, the incumbent Democrat who narrowly won that race, is a key factor in the fallout between the two sides, , with Republican leaders suggesting they could try to block him regardless of the judge's findings.
What we're watching: The temporarily tied Senate, which is expected to return to a one-vote majority for the DFL after a late January special session, is calmer seas — for now.
- But the upcoming trial for a DFL senator charged with burglary could reignite tensions and potentially put control of that chamber back in play.