Democrats outraged as Republicans seek to take advantage of temporary majority before special house election

Summary

Minnesota House Democrats boycotted the legislative session, denying Republicans the quorum needed to act on their temporary 67-66 majority after a Democrat was disqualified.

The boycott, triggered by GOP plans to ignore a court ruling and refuse to seat a Democrat, aims to prevent what Democrats call “unprecedented abuse of power.”

Republicans proceeded with their agenda, disputing the quorum requirement.

The standoff, potentially leading to lawsuits, mirrors similar partisan walkouts in other states.

A special election in two weeks may restore the chamber’s tie.

  • partial_accumen@lemmy.world
    1041·
    24 hours ago

    GOP plans to ignore a court ruling and refuse to seat a Democrat

    …and…

    Republicans proceeded with their agenda, disputing the quorum requirement.

    “If conservatives become convinced that they can not win democratically, they will not abandon conservatism. The will reject democracy.” - David Frum

    • CosmicTurtle0@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      303·
      22 hours ago

      I don’t understand how Democrats can continue to fail to learn this lesson.

      Democrats are trying to play by the rules.

      Republicans are playing to win by any means necessary.

      • usernamesAreTricky
        12·
        18 hours ago

        What are Dems supposed to do here exactly that they’re not already doing. Please elaborate with specifics because I am very very tired of comments like this without any specific critiques. The title isn’t reflecting what they are doing. They aren’t boycotting, they are specifically trying to block republicans from doing anything until the special election where the chamber will become tied

        They are already getting in the mud a bit here by trying to stop the session until the special election. They have made a lot of moves here to block Republicans. They swore in dems early so that they could block quorum and they did so in secret to catch Republicans off gaurd, Gov Tim Walz called the special election as soon as possible despite republicans trying to push the date further out, they had the Democratic secretary of state declare no quorum was met so that they have great merit for legal challenges if republicans try and ignore the law, etc.

        Edit: also the Minnesota Secretary of State just came out and said they intend to file suit to challange Republicans ignoring his declaration of no quorum and adjournment

        https://www.sos.state.mn.us/about-the-office/news-room/secretary-simon-statement-on-opening-session-of-the-minnesota-house-of-representatives/

        • meco03211@lemmy.world
          1·
          14 hours ago

          What do they need to file suit for? The session was adjourned. No business could happen. It holds as much sway as if I waltzed into the chambers and held a vote declaring myself speaker. They should ignore it until a proper vote can happen.

      • grue@lemmy.worldEnglish
        14·
        21 hours ago

        Republicans believe they can flout the law with impunity. Democrats refuse to teach the lesson that destroying the Rule of Law harms the Republicans too, by treating them as the literal outlaws they are.

  • Mossy Feathers (She/They)@pawb.social
    41·
    24 hours ago

    Republicans proceeded with their agenda, disputing the quorum requirement.

    To the surprise of no one. This is likely them dipping their toes in the water to see what happens if they decide to just ignore the rules within a legislative body. Will anyone actually stop them? Will the courts care? If the answer to both is “no”, then try it in a few other states and if all goes well, you know that no one will likely interfere at a federal level either.

  • Optional@lemmy.world
    114·
    23 hours ago

    Nooooooooo Dems are terrible and the same as republiQans!1! The non-voters have spoken (but not voted)!