| Will there be more legislative elections this year? Stay tuned. There are 29 pending recall petitions before the Minnesota Supreme Court against DFL lawmakers over their presession swearing in and the boycott for the opening weeks. The Republican Party is pushing the recall (we went over their arguments in an item last week). A recently filed response on behalf of the targeted DFLers seeks to knock down the underpinnings. The brief says that the decision to deny a quorum doesn’t constitute malfeasance or nonfeasance — the standards for a recall proceeding through multiple paces. “Although Petitioners seek to emphasize the fact that the Legislators missed eight days of the legislative session, it is not disputed that this was the result of the single act of denying a quorum in an effort to resolve a political stalemate. Instead, the Petitioners allege eight missed session days, all of which were missed because the Legislators were engaging in a single course of conduct: a denial of quorum. This political act ended with a political solution. The Legislators are all currently attending session. The denial of quorum has not recurred,” the brief reads. As to the swearing in two days ahead of session, the DFL response is that judicial officers are permitted to conduct oath ceremonies and the timing is irrelevant.
Of note: The DFL lawmakers subject to recall efforts are being represented by DFL Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office. The brief cites a state law allowing that representation for state officers “in all matters pertaining to their official duties.” A decision from the chief justice to dismiss or keep the petitions moving along is the next step.
House Republicans opted to push pause on a plan to delay Minnesota’s paid family and medical leave program. But discussions about the program are far from over this year. Dana reports that GOP lawmakers still want revisions to the program . They have been holding hearings on it during their time in control (another will happen again tomorrow) and they see the issue as a possible bargaining chip for end-of-session budget talks now that they have a more prominent role in shaping a spending plan. Democrats have firmly rejected efforts to postpone the program’s launch and officials at the agency set to run it say they’ll be ready to go come Jan. 1.
After last week’s downbeat economic forecast, state officials are providing a more-upbeat assessment of actual tax revenues for last month. The state took in $116 million — or 10 percent — more than it was anticipating in February. That’s due almost entirely to stronger-than-expected income tax receipts. Sales tax revenues missed their mark but all other categories of revenue were up. State officials always caution against reading too much into the monthly figures but being on the plus side is important because these are dollars in the bank rather than predictions of future activity.
Meanwhile, a plan to avert a U.S. government shutdown has advanced through the House and is a Senate vote away from reality. The House voted mostly along party lines — 217-213 — for the proposal to extend government funding through September. Minnesota’s delegation broke along party lines, with four Republicans in favor and four Democrats opposed. Democrats said it would provide a “blank check” to President Donald Trump as he moves to remake the federal government. Republicans said it fulfills an obligation to keep essential services in operation.
Candidates for Congress are at the starting line. In the 7th Congressional District, where Rep. Michelle Fischbach is in her third term, DFLer Erik Osberg has kicked off a campaign. The district has been solidly Republican for years. Fischbach has increased her win margin each time since knocking off Democratic Rep. Collin Peterson in 2020. Osberg is hoping a creative campaign theme helps build his awareness among voters. MPR’s Mathew Holding Eagle III reports that Osberg will hold 37 fish fries in the district’s 37 counties to introduce himself.
What songs are on Minnesota’s Spotify playlist? Sen. Rob Kupec, DFL-Moorhead, is pushing a bill that would designate , in state statute, ‘Hail! Minnesota’ as the official state song. The song was adopted as the state song back in 1945, but never put into statute. He’d like to add it, along with two songs by Minnesota musicians — ‘Girl from the North Country’ by Bob Dylan and ‘Purple Rain’ by Prince — as the official state songs. Some on the State Government Committee questioned having three state songs instead of one. Kupec says it would better reflect the state’s history and changing tastes. | 