Constitutional Crisis Day 3: bill introductions
They say that the world is run by the people who show up. All week long it has been just the 67 Republicans who have shown up to attend the state House of Representatives in the Capitol.
Contrary to popular belief, the 66 House Democrats aren’t being locked out, they describe themselves as “on strike.” They have voluntarily stayed away, for reasons that they can’t quite articulate, other than not getting their way.
Today, for example, seven House committees met at the Capitol and conducted business as usual with no Democrats present.
Later, Republicans met in a floor session and adopted the Journal for yesterday‘s session. More importantly, ten bills were introduced, House Files 1 through 10. No bills authored by Democrats were introduced today. The House then adjourned until Monday at noon, a day that would otherwise have been a holiday.
From experience, I can tell you that the first ten bills introduced carry symbolic significance, representing the top priorities of the majority party for the year.
The first three bills are related to curbing the rampant fraud plaguing the state’s public welfare programs. HF 3 would strengthen the Office of Legislative Auditor (OLA).
Bills four and five contain tax cuts. Bill six relates to education, bill seven seeks to reduce crime, and bill eight would cut environmental permitting red tape.
HF 9 would repeal the current ban on building new nuclear power plants, among other energy-related measures.
HF 10 would remove the eligibility for illegal immigrants to participate in state welfare programs.
All ten should prove broadly popular with a majority of Minnesota voters. We’ve been told that at least two of these bills (HF 3 and HF 9) will receive committee hearings on Tuesday of next week. The House calendar is already populating with other committee hearings scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
On Thursday (January 23) the state supreme court is expected to hear two lawsuits filed by the Democratic Secretary of State (Steve Simon) and the 66 House Democrats yesterday. The lawsuit hinges on whose definition of the word “quorum” will prevail.
Democrats are asking the MN Supreme Court (also consisting exclusively of Democrats) to wipe out everything the Republicans have done this week (and next) and order a “do-over” where Democrats would be in charge.
Keep in mind, Democrats have vowed to not show up at any point before February 3, or when they gain a 67th member via special election, whichever is later. At a minimum, Democrats will have boycotted at least a dozen workdays during which Republicans will have been advancing their agenda. Again, the world belongs to those who show up.
Across the hallway, Gov. Tim Walz was talking up his proposed budget. This exercise is largely meaningless, with the next budget estimate not due until the end of February.
As Republicans propose real efforts to fight fraud, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports on the Governor’s paltry efforts,
The budget plan also includes some small spending increases, including nearly $45 million for fraud prevention efforts, with the bulk of the new spending focused on human services.
$45 million seems like a miniscule amount, given that billions of dollars are likely lost to fraud each budget cycle. In fact, fighting fraud should return money to the treasury not consume it, and should be accomplished by redirecting existing resources and replacing existing state workers.
File the Walz budget plan under DOA.
As for the Constitutional Crisis, it’s a fair bet that the supreme court members will ultimately side with their fellow Democrats. What then?
There is no scenario where the Democrats get to a numerical majority in the Minnesota House in 2025, and there is no guarantee that the Senate Democrats will permanently improve on the current 33-33 tie in that chamber.
The Center’s John Hinderaker wrote on Tuesday over on his PowerLine blog,
At some point, the Democrats will come skulking back to the Capitol to assume their minority status. Meanwhile, the Republicans have called their bluff, and the Democrats’ attempt to bring the House to its knees failed.
His conclusion,
I think we saw a turning point in Minnesota political history today–turning in the right direction, because Republicans stood strong.
The longer the Democrats stay away from the Capitol, the more likely John’s prediction will prove correct. I’m sure that it’s true that the general public (and most voters) don’t care about “process.” But they understand what it means to show up in life, and the Democrats refuse.
The crisis continues to generate national headlines. Not surprisingly, MSNBC sides with the Democrats: Minnesota voters elected a split state House. Republicans seized power anyway.
Out-of-state outlets continue to pick up the story from the Associated Press. Here’s the Houston Chronicle: Walz urges lawmakers to end a power struggle upending the Minnesota Legislature.