‘Need to start over’: GOP, DFL leaders talk next steps to settle House control
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The Minnesota House of Representatives starts its third week in limbo as DFLers and Republicans wrangle over who’ll control the chamber this session.
The Minnesota Supreme Court on Friday answered one key question in the political struggle — justices agreed with the DFL that it takes 68 members present to conduct House business — but they tossed other questions of control back to House leaders to figure it out.
DFL Rep. Jamie Long and Republican House Leader Lisa Demuth joined MPR News guest host Emily Bright to parse whether the court’s ruling will deepen the partisan standoff or be enough to end a Democratic boycott.
Demuth said her party recognizes that the last two weeks of work are now essentially moot.
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“We do need to start over, and we understand that,” said Demuth, R-Cold Spring.
The House is scheduled to convene at 3:30 p.m. Monday, but whether DFLers will show up — and make a quorum a reality — is still a question. Negotiations about sharing power are ongoing as of Monday morning, said Long, DFL-Minneapolis.
“We’d like nothing more than to be back in the Capitol,” Long said. “It does take two to negotiate, though, and the actions of the last two weeks were not particularly encouraging.”
Listen to their conversations in turn by clicking the player button.