‘No-shenanigans handshake’ helps usher in Minnesota House return after prolonged power standoff
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The Minnesota House got its fresh start Thursday.
The body came to order with enough members to allow the official beginning of session work following an agreement between Democrats and Republicans to end a several-week stalemate.
Steps that are typically a formality to get lawmakers up and running have been a source of friction in the narrowly split chamber. The new power-sharing deal, which won’t take its full effect until a special election next month, was enough to conclude a DFL boycott and pave the way for organizing steps.
Some members crossed the aisle to shake hands and to hug one another as they came into session. And they cheered and whistled as Secretary of State Steve Simon announced that the House had the votes it needed to get to work.
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In its first official act, the House elected Republican Rep. Lisa Demuth the new House speaker on a 67-65 vote.
In her acceptance speech , Demuth committed to working with both parties, and she said the close tally in the House will give members a unique opportunity to work together.
“The people of Minnesota have given us a unique opportunity with this closely divided they expect us to rise above the politics and to find solutions together,” she said. “Let's use this moment to show that what is possible when we govern with purpose, what is possible when we govern with integrity and a shared commitment to Minnesota's future.”
Rep. Dave Baker, R-Willmar, nominated her for the post. He said she would help foster bipartisan cooperation.
“We must work in a bipartisan manner like we have never done before,” Baker said. “This will test the leadership's skills on every level in the next couple years."
Demuth, R-Cold Spring, is the first person of color to lead the chamber and the first Republican woman in the role. She said she tries to focus on her merits over her background but appreciated the historic moment in the making.
“The significance of this great honor doesn't escape me today is a testament to the progress and the possibilities of our great state,” Demuth said, “and I am committed to leading with integrity, respect and a focus on delivering real results to every Minnesota.”
Senate President Bobby Joe Champion, the first Black Minnesotan to hold that presiding office, administered Demuth’s oath of office.
Demuth said that she hopes it will become a norm that people of color are elected to similar roles.
“I look forward to the day that it will no longer be a surprise or an unusual thing that those coming behind me will be able to feel like there’s no reason why they can’t feel these same things if they have the qualifications and the merits that would bring them through,” she said.
Both sides made concessions to get a deal. It came together in private talks, which were described as both tense and at times light-hearted.
They resorted to legislative humor and opposing negotiators joked Thursday about one member’s chainsaw collection and a rival duo’s “no-shenanigans handshake.” (Neither would show that off in public, however.)
“The way that you get a compromise is give and take. You have to have give and take,” said House DFL Leader Melissa Hortman.
In a separate news conference, Demuth concurred: “The best negotiations is when not everyone walks out completely happy.”
Democrats agreed to let Demuth hold the speaker’s gavel for the full two-year term with some conditions on that authority. Still, it will put Demuth and Republicans in charge of procedural motions and other key aspects of the session. They can’t pass a bill without 68 votes though.
Meanwhile, Republicans agreed to seat DFL Rep. Brad Tabke despite questions about his narrow win in Shakopee.
The deal allows an ethics committee to examine that House race where Tabke won by 14 votes but 20 absentee ballots were cast but not counted. But that panel – where the parties already have equal representation — is deemed unlikely to sidetrack Tabke’s seating. The pact says it would take 68 votes to do that, more than Republicans have.
Hortman, of Brooklyn Park, said that was a linchpin of the deal.
“Brad Tabke won on election night. He won in a recount, and he won in court. This agreement upholds the will of the voters as expressed in a free and fair election,” Hortman said. “This agreement honors and protects the will of the voters, both in Shakopee and statewide. That is what Democrats have been asking for from the beginning.”
Hortman said she will go by the title “speaker emeritus.”
Republicans will succeed in establishing a new fraud prevention committee and will keep the majority on that committee for the two-year term. The panel will have a wide berth to look into oversight of programs by the administration of Gov. Tim Walz. But it won’t be able to subpoena witnesses or materials without the support of at least one committee DFLer.
More broadly, Republicans will lead more than two dozen House committees at least until next month. A suburban Ramsey County special election on March 11 will determine if Democrats and Republicans return to a 67-67 tie or if Republicans gain a larger majority. The winner is expected to join the House around St. Patrick’s Day.
GOP leaders said they would use that time to push forward measures they view as priorities: addressing improper state spending, tweaking the state’s paid family and medical leave program and boosting student literacy.
“You will see a few hundred bills that will be introduced again today,” Demuth said, noting Republicans had filed around 300 before the Supreme Court ruled that their actions earlier in session. Those lapsed after justices ruled the House hadn’t met the 68-vote threshold to organize the chamber.
“You will see those bills move forward, but it will be things that people can get behind,” she continued.
If a tie emerges, committee control would be evenly split, as would committee representation.
Lawmakers won’t be able to make up lost time given the standoff lasted nearly four weeks.
The Legislature has about four months to write and pass a two-year state budget, or face a state government shutdown if they can’t agree to one by July.
House leaders said they were hopeful that they could finish one on time. And they said the negotiations could serve as a model for striking a budget deal.
But they noted that the bumpy start to the legislative session caused some tension between the parties.
“I think we’ll be able to work together well, but it will take some time,” Hortman said. “Certainly, everybody’s still pretty angry at each other.”
Demuth agreed, saying, “We know there’s a lot of work to do, and we are going to have to mend fences and build some bridges so that we can work together well.”
