‘As bad as I’ve ever seen it’: Partisan dysfunction worsens in Minnesota Legislature

In recent years, the DFL has largely been in control and unaccustomed to compromise, he said. Republicans, meanwhile, have been largely shut out; now they have pent-up demand for a modicum of power, he said. “Poof, that’s what we have right now,” Schultz said.

In addition, he said, the Legislature is relatively young with many new members and a lack of negotiating experience or prowess.

In the past two sessions, especially in 2023, the DFL used its power to pass a litany of progressive policies, spurning GOP attempts to moderate the proposals. “The Democrats played winner-take-all politics; you could argue Republicans would have done the same thing,” Schultz said.

“Now both sides are playing winner-take-all, take-no-prisoners politics,” he said.

Difficult negotiations usually come at the end of legislative sessions as lawmakers try to pass big policy bills and a two-year state budget. This year, the acrimony arrived early and risks upending the entire session.

It wasn’t expected to go this way. The House was set to be tied 67-67 after the November election, and both parties were discussing how to amicably share power. But Republicans backed away from negotiations after a judge ruled in December that newly elected Democrat Curtis Johnson didn’t live in his Roseville-area House district and was ineligible to take office. As a result, the seat was left vacant.