Constitutional Crisis Day 17: All quiet on the media front
I’m guessing that most Minnesotans aren’t even aware that the state House of Representatives is nonfunctioning. I don’t blame them. People have to live their lives, work their jobs, get their kids to school every day. Many of those who are aware assume that, on balance, having less government must be a good thing.
As our Constitutional Crisis 2025TM drags on through the end of week 3, there has been less and less coverage in legacy media, mostly because there is no obvious way to blame the impasse on Republicans.
In a now-daily humiliation ritual, Democratic Secretary of State Steve Simon calls the House to order, notes the attendance of the Republicans assembled, and then adjourns again until tomorrow at 3:30 p.m., Groundhog Day-style. Today was no different, with one exception,
The one exception was that Sec. Simon mercifully postponed the next meeting until Monday, February 3.
The technical term that most closely applies is “prorogue,” a two-syllable word that resembles nothing of its component parts. It means to discontinue a legislative body without formally dissolving it. It’s a form of (small “d”) democratic statis. And by “stasis,” I intend both meanings of the word, inactivity and civil strife.
The institution still exists (on paper), but it is not allowed to function. By coincidence, this is the current status of the Canadian national parliament.
This afternoon, House Republicans sued Sec. Simon over his refusal to recognize their floor motions during these sham sessions.
The state Senate continues operating, but since the House is still not, media feel obligated to report…something. A round up of recent headlines,
Fox 9: Standoff extended in Minnesota House with no power-sharing deal
MPR News: Uncertainty grips Minnesota Legislature amid power struggle
KSTP-TV: No movement as Minnesota House stalemate reaches Day 15
Pioneer Press: MN House remains stalled with little progress in DFL-GOP struggle
Star Tribune: As MN House stalemate continues, how much are legislators being paid?
MN Reformer: Negotiations between Minnesota House Republican, Democratic leaders stall
The Star Tribune‘s take at least adds some additional data. They report that the 66 Democrats refusing to work are still getting paid, collecting more than $130,000 in salary, so far, for doing nothing. Think of it as a universal basic income (UBI) program for politicians.
Republicans are also tracking the DFL running totals, putting the dollar amount above $151,000.
And those dollar amounts don’t cover the salaries of their staff, who also have no work, but still collect pay.
“Nice work if you can get it!”