The New House Republican Caucus (NHRC) introduced a bill to ban legislators from taking employment with lobby groups in a move likely aimed at Republican House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt.
This original legislation was introduced to the State House late last month. On Tuesday, State Senator Scott Jensen put forth a companion bill in the senate. The pair of bills appear to be aimed at Daudt, who has been in the NHRC’s crosshairs since he took a job with Statside lobby group in 2019.
“A sitting member of the legislature is prohibited from accepting employment with
or otherwise receiving compensation for services performed from a business whose primary
activities involve lobbying, government relations or government affairs, or other public
policy advocacy or consulting,” the legislation reads.
It also specifies that “this prohibition applies regardless of the location where the
work of the business is substantially conducted or its clients are located.” This stipulation prohibits legislators from performing lobby work that occurs outside Minnesota. It also seems to confirm that this legislation is aimed at Daudt, whose employer is located in DC.
This is not the first time the NRHC have attacked Daudt. The caucus was formed in opposition to Daudt’s leadership of Minnesota conservatives, which the caucus characterized as incompetent.
Early last month, members of the NRHC caucus called for an ethics investigation into the minority leader’s job. At that time, members of the NRHC said that Daudt “most assuredly betrayed the public trust and has brought dishonor and disrepute upon the Minnesota House of Representatives.”
Kyle Hooten
Kyle Hooten is Managing Editor of Alpha News. His coverage of Minneapolis has been featured on television shows like Tucker Carlson Tonight and in print media outlets like the Wall Street Journal.
