A brief vignette at the Minnesota State Capitol Wednesday demonstrated that nothing is routine this year.
Usually, as part of opening ceremonies, the House and Senate appoint special committees to inform the other chamber and inform the governor that they are organized, ready to conduct business and open to receive messages.
It is usually a fun, sometimes silly meeting in which the governor or his representative meets the committee and exchanges pleasantries and attempts at humor. Then they leave and report back to their chambers.
Not this year.
After being appointed to visit the governor, Republican Reps. Ben Bakeberg, Max Rymer, Jon Koznick and Paul Anderson descended the stairs to the governor’s first-floor office and were greeted by Deputy Chief of Staff Leah Montgomery. After introductions and handshakes, Koznick delivered the message that the House was ready to work.
“The governor is not prepared to accept any formal communications from the House that is not constitutionally organized,” Montgomery said, citing Secretary of State Steve Simon’s ruling Tuesday that because only 67 members were in the House and a quorum requires 68 members, the lack of a quorum meant no further action could be taken. The House GOP moved ahead despite that ruling, arguing Simon has no authority to tell the House how to act.
“There’s a difference of opinion at this point but it’ll get sorted out,” Koznick said on his way back to report to the House. “As far as I’m concerned, the House is duly organized.”
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Peter Callaghan
Peter Callaghan covers state government for MinnPost. Follow him on Twitter @CallaghanPeter or email him at pcallaghan@minnpost.com.
