Hortman: House DFL Members Will Not Report If No Power-Sharing Deal

Minnesota House Democrats say they are prepared to not show up for the upcoming session if House Republicans don’t agree to share power.

The session is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, Jan. 14.

House Republicans currently have a 67 members, one more than the 66 DFL members.

After the election, the two parties had equal representation, but then-representative-elect DFLer Curtis Johnson resigned his seat.

A judge ruled he did not meet the residency requirement to serve his Roseville district. A special election for his seat is scheduled for later this month.

The House GOP held a news conference on Monday afternoon. Speaker Designate Rep. Lisa Demuth said Republicans plan to act as a majority on the first day of the session.

House DFL leader Rep. Melissa Hortman of Brooklyn Park said in that in the House, a majority of 68 members is required to conduct business.

She said neither caucus has that legal majority and they should work out a power-sharing agreement.

“We will do what it takes to preserve the will of the voters in the Minnesota House of Representatives,” Hortman said in a news conference later Monday. “In this last election, Minnesotans voted for equal numbers of Democratic and Republican state representatives. Honoring the voters means governing together under power-sharing.”

Hortman said if a power-sharing agreement isn’t reached, Democrats will not show up on the House floor.

She added that she is confident that an agreement will be reached.

In the GOP press conference, Demuth said GOP members plan to end fraud, remove a social security tax, repeal the nuclear moratorium and “hold criminals accountable.”

Both news conference can be viewed on the House YouTube channel.

Brooklyn Park | Twin Cities