Mark Ross, president of the St. Paul Police Federation, blasted Minnesota DFL legislators Tuesday after they failed to attend the opening day of the legislative session hours after a St. Paul police officer was shot at in the line of duty.
Ross stood before the Minnesota Law Enforcement Memorial to vent his frustration.
“Cops showed up last year, and 2024 was a terrible year for officers being killed in the line of duty. We don’t want that to repeat in 2025,” Ross said. “But this morning, half the people who were supposed to show up for work on the House floor didn’t show up. I’m really frustrated by it.”
Ross continued to point out what he believes is a glaring disparity between the commitment of law enforcement officers and a lack of responsibility among Democratic lawmakers.
“Last night, one of our cops was shot at with an AR-15. By the grace of God, he’s not injured, he’s alive, and he’s going to come back to work,” Ross said. “Our cops had the fortitude to show up for work yesterday, and they’re showing up tonight, today, and every day. Meanwhile, these folks couldn’t show up over some petty political grievance.”
Ross also talked about the essential role of law enforcement in ensuring public safety, pointing to troopers, conservation officers, deputies, and police officers who are actively working to protect Minnesota communities.
St. Paul – A police squad was struck by gunfire after a vehicle took off from them. One suspect was taken into custody during a felony stop. No initial reports of injuries.
Fuller and Victoria St
23:01 pic.twitter.com/zNdU3IAEOF— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) January 14, 2025
GOP holds slim majority as DFL absence disrupts quorum
With the Minnesota House narrowly divided—67 Republicans to 66 Democrats—the absence of DFL members has been a point of contention between Republicans and Democrats in recent weeks.
Republicans argue that a judge’s ruling last month, declaring Curtis Johnson ineligible to represent House District 40B, reduces the required quorum. They say that the seat is now vacant, meaning 67 members are sufficient to meet the quorum requirement.
However, House DFL members and Secretary of State Steve Simon contend that 68 members must be present in the chamber to constitute a quorum, regardless of vacant seats.
At the conclusion of his remarks, Ross urged lawmakers to take their responsibilities seriously and commit to serving the state in 2025.
“All we’re asking is for these people to show up and be there for us, because we’ll be there for them,” he said. “They should be ashamed of themselves for not showing up.”
Jenna Gloeb
Jenna Gloeb is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, media producer, public speaker, and screenwriter. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and on-air host for CCX Media. Jenna is a Minnesota native and resides in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, daughter, and two dogs.
