NEW HOUSE REPUBLICANS LEAD THE WAY BACK TO FREEDOM IN MINNESOTA

[ST. PAUL, MN] Today, the New House Republican Caucus introduced a concurrent resolution which, if passed by the House and Senate would have ended the Governor’s extended peacetime emergency. The resolution carried language similar to a Senate Resolution introduced by Senator Scott Jensen in the Minnesota Senate last session. 

Rep. Steve Drazkowski, leader of the New House Republican Caucus said today “We will continue to fight for the integrity of institutions, especially the Legislature that we were elected to represent. This is a dark chapter in Minnesota’s history, where a Governor can take power under one pretext and then change that pretext and expand his mandate. He broke faith with the legislature and the people of Minnesota and he must be stopped and held accountable.” 

Rep. Jeremy Munson, who chief authored HC1 said, “Chapter 12 of Minnesota Statutes, especially 12.31 is simply bad law. It allows the Governor to make law without any other Legislative or Judicial Review. Governor Walz’s actions have exposed how great a weakness it has in undermining our constitutional government. We must end this peacetime emergency so that we can begin to put our institutions back into their rightful place.”

The four members of the New House Republican Caucus are also named plaintiffs, along with over 40 Minnesota businesses, in a lawsuit against the Governor which would find the Governor’s executive orders and the process outlined in Minnesota statutes 12.31 unconstitutional. 

Timeline:

April 14 -- Members of the New GOP propose HCR8, to end the peacetime emergency, with a floor vote on whether to bring it up immediately. 

April 28 -- Members of the New GOP supported HCR10, similar to HCR8, with some compromise language along with the House Republican Caucus. 

May 7 -- Rep. Steve Drazkowski offers amendment to a COVID bill to suspend the Governor’s Salary until the peacetime emergency is over.

May 11—Rep. Tim Miller makes a motion to bring up his bill HF 4655, which would put a guarantee of religious freedom into Minnesota Statute.

May 28-- Members joined with a group of small businesses to sue the Governor in Ramsey County Court to end executive orders and the peacetime emergency. The Governor was asked to respond to the court by June 18 on questions about whether he exceeded his authority. A Court decision expected by mid-July.

June 12 – First day of 2020 special session --New House GOP introduced HC1, a house concurrent resolution to end the special session. The House Republican Caucus brought their own resolution, HCR2 and New House Republicans supported a vote on HC2, to end the Peacetime Emergency. The Senate passed their own version of the Resolution with 3 DFLers joining the GOP Majority.

The NHRC is led by Rep. Steve Drazkowski (Republican-Mazeppa). It includes Rep. Cal Bahr (Republican-East Bethel), Rep. Tim Miller (Republican-Prinsburg), and Rep. Jeremy Munson (Republican-Lake Crystal).

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