Legislative Update: Minnesota Supreme Court rules GOP power grab unconstitutional

Dear Neighbors, 

In my last newsletter (which you can read here), I shared my thoughts about Minnesota House Republicans’ attempt to seize power–ignoring the law, the Minnesota Constitution, and the will of the voters.

Last Friday, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that House Republicans violated the state constitution and Minnesota law in their attempt to seize control of the Minnesota House.  This is a clear rebuke of Republicans’ anti-democratic abuse of power and an opportunity for House Republicans to reset, come back to the agreement reached in November, and for both parties to govern the tied House together.

Unfortunately, in the last few days Republicans have made clear they are not yet ready to give up their efforts to grab power they didn’t win from voters. They continue their threats to throw out an election they lost and disenfranchise 21,980 Shakopee voters by refusing to seat a duly-elected representative, Brad Tabke. This is outrageous and unprecedented in Minnesota history and it takes a page right from Donald Trump’s playbook.

I wrote a guest commentary about it  in today’s Star Tribune titled “We’re fighting against Trump’s playbook in the Minnesota House.” As a national voting rights lawyer with a front-row seat to the first Trump administration, I recognize the House Republicans’ actions for what they are — an experimentation with the same authoritarian tactics mainstreamed by Donald Trump. I hope you can take some time to read the full commentary using this gift link.

Republicans’ goals are clear – kick out Representative Tabke to take power to advance their extreme MAGA agenda. They want to roll back reproductive freedoms, take school meals away from kids, and make it easier to get a gun than paid leave to care for your sick kid. That is an agenda tailor-made by the gun lobby and GOP corporate backers that leaves our communities less free, less healthy, and less safe. It is not the agenda that Minnesotans voted for in the last elections.

Democrats will fight the extreme Trump-MAGA agenda and protect the progress we have made for Minnesotans over the past two years, whether attacks come from the Minnesota GOP or the Trump Administration. I’m looking forward to advocating for the needs of our district in the Minnesota Legislature as soon as Republicans abandon their threats to overturn an election and respect the reality of a tied legislature.

Working for Our District

At this time, I’m doing everything within my power to work on the priorities of our district and ensure that the voices of you, my constituents, are not ignored by the House Republicans. I’ve been meeting with local leaders, community organizations, and folks on the ground who are dedicated to making Minnesota a better place.

I’ve visited local schools like Kenny Elementary and Justice Page Middle School, where I’ve been able to talk to students, teachers, and staff about their needs. I’ve toured Spring Manor with the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority, the City of Minneapolis’ parking management and sign shop, LiUNA’s training center, and the Neighborhood Development Center. I’ve met with organizations like Unidos, talked to constituents about issues ranging from worker misclassification, AARP priorities, property taxes, small business partnerships, and more! 

You can keep up with all that work by checking out my Official State Representative Facebook page, and I encourage you to also share my posts with our neighbors to get the word out that House DFLers are working hard for our communities and fighting against Republicans’ attempt to overturn election results and push through their unpopular agenda.

Hold the Line for Our Democracy - Star Tribune Commentary

I, along with several of my colleagues, recently signed onto a powerful commentary about the need to keep Minnesota as a beacon of hope. During the last biennium, my DFL colleagues and I accomplished a lot of good, bringing our state closer to a place where all people have the freedom to live their best life. We moved to protect the rights of the most vulnerable and improve the economy for working and middle class families. We fought hard to get where we are, and we won’t back down now.

Trump’s “divide-and-conquer” politics stand in stark contrast to how DFL majorities have made progress on the things that matter to Minnesotans. We must be prepared to defend the victories that Minnesota workers and families fought for years to deliver: free school meals for every child, access to paid family and medical leave for workers, protecting reproductive freedom and LGBTQ rights, expanding access to health care and making prescription drugs like insulin and asthma inhalers more affordable, bold action on climate change, and creating more opportunities for Minnesotans to buy a home.

The road ahead is uncertain and rocky, and it will have consequences for every town, city, county, and state in this nation. But we are Minnesota, and Minnesota is for everyone. We will do everything in our power to keep it that way.

Trump’s Attack on Vital Programs

Make no mistake, the confusion around whether or not President Trump can or will halt federal funding to important programs is by design. I am working closely with the Walz Administration and the Attorney General’s Office to assess the potential impact of President Trump’s proposed freeze of essential aid to Americans on our district

The impact could be far-reaching and cause disruptions to vital programs like Head Start, Medicaid/services for our disability community, Meals on Wheels for our seniors, heating assistance for families in the winter, cancer trials and research, service funding for homelessness providers and domestic violence shelters, and thousands of other programs totaling billions of dollars here in Minnesota alone.

This unconscionable action, and the reckless way it has been carried out, has caused real harm to our communities. I am angry, especially for all the Minnesotans who are wrestling with the uncertainty of what this directive could mean for them and loved ones.

Know this – we will fight this unconstitutional power grab with every tool at our disposal. Governor Walz and Attorney General Ellison are suing Trump in court and state legislators are working closely with our Congressional delegation and the administration on an action plan. We will not let this egregious and cruel attack on Minnesotans stand.

Stay in Touch

Thank you for your time, energy, and all you do to make our community a great place to live, work, and play. Always feel free to reach out to me with your input and ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance. My email is rep.emma.greenman@house.mn.gov or you are always welcome to call me at the Capitol at 651-296-4200 and follow my Facebook page for updates.

It’s an honor and a privilege to be your State Representative. I'm very proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish together and look forward to the work we have ahead of us. Together, we can create a stronger, brighter future for all Minnesotans!  

Best, 

Emma Greenman
State Representative