MINNESOTA – The Republican Party of Minnesota launches an effort to recall the 66 DFL State Representatives boycotting the House of Representatives.
Republicans argue DFLers are abandoning their duties, skipping work and taking their taxpayer-funded paychecks.
“We cannot allow this betrayal of public trust to continue. This fight is about more than politics. It’s about standing up for Minnesota values: showing up, doing the job you’re paid to do, and respecting the taxpayers who elected you,” a website announcing the recall funded by MNGOP said.
To initiate a recall election, more than 5,000 valid signatures of people living in each district must be obtained.
Democrats have not shown up to floor sessions or committee hearings because they want GOP House leader State Representative Lisa Demuth to commit to a power sharing agreement. Republicans have a 67 to 66 seat majority. A Roseville area seat is open since DFLer Curtis Johnson didn’t meet residency requirements.
The agreement Democrats want includes allowing DFL State Representative Brad Tabke of Shakopee to be seated. He won his district by 14 votes over Republican Aaron Paul despite 21 ballots that went missing. Scott County officials say they were likely thrown away and won’t be recovered. Tabke won an election contest in court where a judge ruled him the winner of the seat. Paul said he will not appeal. Demuth said the House has the authority to rule on the eligibility of members.
The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled 68 members of the House are required to do any business.
“Until you ask me questions that are rooted in a nonpartisan basis, I won’t participate in your questions,” DFL State Representative Heather Keeler of Moorhead replied when asked by text message for a comment on the MNGOP’s recall effort and if she’s concerned enough signatures will be gathered in a petition to call for a recall election.
“Republicans have wasted weeks trying to overturn an election that they lost so that they can seize power that Minnesotans didn’t give them at the ballot box. Today’s stunt shows how desperate they have become after the courts struck down their unlawful power grab and ruled that Rep. Tabke was duly elected by Shakopee voters. Weeks after the judge’s ruling, Minnesota GOP legislators need to answer whether they plan to overturn an election for partisan gain,” a DFL spokesperson said.
