Hortman releases DFL offer on the table, calls on Demuth to return to negotiations

Saint Paul, Minn. – Today, DFL Speaker-designate Melissa Hortman publicly released the power-sharing agreement offer that remains on the table for negotiations. Hortman made the offer on the evening of Monday, January 14 and again on the morning of Tuesday, January 15. Hortman reiterated the offer remains on the table and called for Leader Demuth to accept the offer or present a counteroffer in a letter today. 

“The path you have chosen and the situation currently unfolding in the Minnesota House is deeply concerning. It’s unfortunate that we were not able to negotiate a satisfactory agreement prior to the start of session,” Hortman’s letter reads. “As we have discussed, due to your refusal to commit to allowing all duly elected members of the Minnesota House DFL to serve the terms to which they have been elected and your refusal to honor the power-sharing agreement we negotiated if the House returns to a 67-67 split, the Minnesota House DFL has chosen to deny quorum to protect the will of the voters.” 

Hortman’s offer amended the power-sharing agreement to provide Republicans with control of the House for the first three weeks of session, including the speakership and control of committees, with the power-sharing agreement resuming on February 3 when the House returns to a 67-67 tie. In addition, it would refer election contests to the Ethics Committee and create an Oversight Committee with Republican control for two years, a sole Republican chair, and a permanent one-seat majority on that committee. 

“Rep. Brad Tabke’s victory in 54A was upheld on election night, in a recount, and by a district court judge. To not seat a duly elected state representative would be an unprecedented abuse of power,” said Hortman. “Republicans must end their illegitimate power grab and honor the will of the voters immediately so the Minnesota House can do the important work we were sent here to do. It’s appalling that Republicans would seek to disenfranchise 22,000 Minnesotans who voted in the November election in an attempt to seize power the voters did not give them.”