Minnesotans have suffered the Democratic trifecta leadership long enough. I know this because there was a time I supported Tim Walz. The truth (including Trooper Ryan Londregan, Liz Collin, and Alpha News) has set me free.
Walz’s leadership has led to a looming massive deficit, massive fraud (much of which has yet to be brought to light), and public-safety concerns that are too many to mention. He has abandoned cops. He has spit in the face of the presumption of innocence. And now, after squandering a $18 billion surplus, he aims to raise taxes.
Although President Trump turned Minnesota’s map almost entirely red, Minnesota Republicans eked out a 67-67 tie in the State House in November’s elections. Many celebrated. (How President Trump dominated almost 70% of Minnesota’s counties yet Minnesota Republicans “captured” a 67-67 tie is a subject for another day.)
However, early celebrations turned out to be misguided. Before even the first session was gaveled to order, House DFLers rushed to court to attempt to get the judiciary to do what voters refused them.
While Republicans began planning for the first day of session, the DFL almost immediately filed suit in the Minnesota Supreme Court—and then rushed a legally flawed swearing-in ceremony in the dark of night with the public unwelcome. DFLers then refused to show up for work—yet insisted on receiving a taxpayer-funded full paycheck. Not bad work if you can get it! Add a Mary Moriarty-acolyte judge to administer the oath to the mix, and you have yourself a perfectly weird, dark, non-statutory (read illegal) night at the Minnesota Historical Museum.
Minnesotans have had enough of these ugly and blatant political games. House Republicans’ wearying attempts to resolve the issue have come to naught. It’s now time to act. And, fortunately, the Minnesota Constitution provides just the solution for a time such as this.
Article IV, section 13 of the Minnesota Constitution provides: “A majority of each house constitutes a quorum to transact business, but a smaller number may [1] adjourn from day to day and [2] compel the attendance of absent members in the manner and under the penalties it may provide.”
Here’s an idea: do something with the Minnesota Constitution. Bring the House Republicans together in the House. Pass a resolution that compels the DFL to come to work. This same resolution should say, pursuant to section 13’s “in the manner and under the penalties it may provide,” “the penalty for you not showing up for work tomorrow shall be to lose your certificate of election to the House—oh, and your paycheck as well.” Then the Republicans will be left with a House of 67 members—and a do-over for every district where the DFL House member didn’t show up to work.
Article IV, section 13 permits this. That is, even if the Secretary of State is correct that a “quorum” doesn’t exist, section 13 provides that the Minnesota House Republicans—you know, the people who actually showed up for work—can compel the attendance of the absent members and exact penalties if they don’t. Put another way, the Minnesota Constitution vests in the Minnesota Legislature the sole authority for a “smaller number” than a quorum to exact “penalties” on absent members. And in State ex rel. Palmer v. Perpich, the Minnesota Supreme Court held in 1971 that each house of the legislature was the judge of the eligibility of its own members, and the lieutenant governor had no right or power to determine who was eligible to be a member of the Senate.
The result? Minnesotans will thank Republican leaders for saying enough is enough, taking bold, constitutionally-permitted action, and tackling the pressing issues facing our great state.
So let’s stop whining. Let’s stop reacting to everything the DFL does. Let’s stop tweeting. Let’s hit them in a way that everyone understands: actual consequences for not showing up to work.
Chris Madel is a prominent Minnesota attorney. He currently represents Trooper Ryan Londregan, Liz Collin, Alpha News, and the MPPOA.
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not represent an official position of Alpha News.