Midwest
Minnesota House Democrats threaten to skip first two weeks of legislative session, preventing GOP quorum
House Democrats in Minnesota’s legislature are threatening to skip out on the first two weeks of the legislative session starting Jan. 14, deepening political discord, the Minnesota Star Tribune reported.
If the Democrats fail to show up, Republicans won’t have the quorum — meaning the minimum number of people required — that they need to legislate, the Star Tribune reported. At the same time, Republicans are weighing whether they should use their one-seat advantage in the House to refuse to seat a Democratic representative whose election victory is being challenged in court.
Originally, the Minnesota House was set to be evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats, but a judge in the state ruled in December that newly-elected Democrat, Curtis Johnson, wasn’t eligible for his seat because he didn’t live in his Roseville-area district. A special election to fill the seat will be held on Jan. 28, but Republicans will have the advantage until then.
Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman (Brooklyn Park-36B) leads a session of the Minnesota State Legislature at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul. (Getty Images)
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It is assumed that the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) party leaders would return to the legislative session if a Democrat were to win the special election, putting the House at a 67-67 tie.
Republicans were hoping to elect a speaker with their advantage in order to control the House committees for the next two years, but House DFL Leader Melissa Hortman said the parties should govern with shared power since the chamber is likely to be tied again after the special election.
“If there is no power-sharing agreement, we will not be here,” Hortman said during a news conference at the State Capitol on Monday.
But Republican leaders disagree, arguing there isn’t currently a tie and that they can reach a quorum on their own since there will be 144 chamber members until the special election in January.
“It completely begs the question of whether or not a true power-sharing was going to work when we see that Democrats are refusing to potentially even come in to work,” State House GOP Leader Lisa Demuth said Monday at a Republican news conference.
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Secretary of State Steve Simon will preside over the House’s first day, where he will make the call about a quorum.
Republicans might also refuse to allow Democratic State Rep. Brad Tabke to take office, as his 14-vote election victory has been contested in court after county elections officials lost 20 absentee ballots in one precinct, the Star Tribune reported. But, the GOP could also simply bar Tabke from taking office based on their own constitutional power regardless of what the judge rules, furthering the GOP advantage.
Minnesota Legislature House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park and Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic, DFL-Minneapolis. DFL leaders held a morning press conference to lay out the priorities of the DFL majority Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023 St. Paul, Minn.
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“We’re waiting for that judge’s ruling. We will make our determination based on what the judge comes through with,” Demuth said in an interview before the news conference. “But we, of course, asked for a new election. That’s the only way to guarantee a solid election in that area.”
If House Democrats boycott next week’s session, Demuth suggested they could be subject to recall petitions.
“I will expect that they’ll be professional legislators and show up,” Demuth said.
Hortman, however, was optimistic that the parties would come to an agreement before the start of the session, the Star Tribune reported.
“Things work themselves out. It’s early, it’s a full week before we need to convene,” Hortman said. “We have lots of time to come together and discuss how we can work together, and I’m confident that we will.”
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Detroit, MI
Trailblaze Detroit: Blazing New Trails while Backpacking Metro Detroit | Visit Detroit | Visit Detroit
Kensington Metropark is a Detroit region outdoor destination that hardly requires an introduction. With over 4,500 acres of protected recreational prowess, the Metropark receives nearly 3 million visitors each year that enjoy the following amenities:
- Hiking, biking, and equestrian trails weaving through over 700 acres of forests, fields, fens, and swamps
- Boating, paddling, and fishing along the Huron River and massive Kent Lake
- Tee times at its 18 hole golf course
- Family-friendly exhibits and events at its Nature Center and Farm Center
- Playgrounds and beaches
- Ultimate summer fun at “Splash ‘n’ Blast” water park
With its abundance of amenities – and impressive visitation figures – readers of this article might be surprised to have only just learned that the Chief Pontiac Trail crosses through the beloved metropark. If you fall into that camp, then know that you’re far from being alone. In fact, that sentiment is representative of one of the best aspects of the Chief Pontiac Trail experience: leading backpackers through the least-visited segments of an extremely popular metropark.
As you complete the Chief Pontiac Trail, you’ll enjoy stunning natural vistas that remain hidden from the majority of visitors to Kensington. From rolling grasslands to stunning explosions of wildflowers and dramatic ridge lines, the dramatic approach to the Huron River provides a gorgeous finale to your long morning on the trail.
A final descent to Kensington’s “Group Campground” illuminates the finish line of the Chief Pontiac trail: the Group Camp Road Bridge over the Huron River. In true Detroit fashion, there’s no glitzy sign or over-hyped fanfare waiting for you at the end of the trail. Instead, nearly 20 miles of backpacking through the heart of Metro Detroit provides you with the following rewards:
- A lifetime of memories gathered in two days
- Unmatched sense of accomplishment and adventure
- Lasting awe and affinity towards the beauty of Metro Detroit’s outdoors
- Shattered expectations regarding “Pure Michigan” trail experiences
- Stunning views of the shining Huron River
Congratulations on walking in Chief Pontiac’s steps, Detroit.
We can’t wait to see you at another trailhead soon.
____________________________________________________________________
Trailblaze Detroit is a multimedia series co-produced by Visit Detroit and Expedition Detroit. The core purpose of the series is to promote outdoor adventure tourism and discovery throughout Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb Counties, as well as highlight the Detroit region’s natural spaces, seasonal activities, hidden outdoor gems, and the individuals that support them.
Are you interested in using adventure marketing to promote your organization or business? Awesome – we’re here to help! Contact us at info@expeditiondetroit.com or 734.821.6416 to learn more.
Employees at a south Minneapolis child care center said they are increasingly concerned about drug use and safety issues, as a homeless encampment grows nearby under the Cedar Avenue and Highway 55 overpass.
Staff at Baby’s Space child care, which has served the neighborhood for more than 25 years, said things have gotten especially bad over the past month.
Yolanda Reyes is an administrative assistant at Baby’s Space, which is just blocks away from the encampment.
“The encampment was moving and then the cops would clear it out, and they’d wait a few hours and they were right back,” said Reyes.
Staff said a fence installed to discourage people from gathering at the encampment has been ineffective. A WCCO camera captured an opening in the fence that allowed people to continue gathering on the sidewalk.
Drug use has become more visible and has moved right outside the child care center’s front door, Reyes said.
“Open use, just freely using their drugs. I had to go out the front door and say, ‘Hey, this is a child care center,’” she said.
The concerns have affected daily activities at the facility. Debbie Lund, executive director for Baby’s Space, said staff worry about what children could encounter while playing outside. She said Minneapolis police now stand watch by their playground.
“It’s hard for us to play outside because we’re not sure what the kids are going to be exposed to,” said Lund.
The concerns have drawn the attention of city leaders. On Tuesday, Minneapolis City Council Member Jason Chavez sent an email to city officials, including Mayor Jacob Frey and Public Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette, requesting immediate support for unhoused residents in the area.
A city spokesperson said the fencing is temporary to allow time for a better long-term solution, in collaboration with the county, Metro Transit, and the Minnesota Department of Transportation, who all have facilities in the area.
In the meantime, the city said they are working to help people move from unsheltered homelessness into stable housing.
Reyes and Lund emphasized that they sympathize with people living in the encampment who are struggling with addiction.
“It’s so hard because our hearts go out to everybody, and yet we really need to keep our children safe,” said Lund.
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