Saint Paul, Minn. – House DFL Leader Melissa Hortman has announced a bipartisan power-sharing agreement that will allow the Minnesota House to begin conducting business during today’s session at 3:30 pm. A recording of this morning’s House DFL media availability will be available online here soon.
Democrats secured the power-sharing agreement they sought, and assurances that Representative Brad Tabke will be seated and will serve the term to which he was elected. Under the agreement, Republicans will control House Committees while they have a 67-66 advantage. They will both chair the committees and have a one-seat voting advantage. If the House returns to a 67-67 tie after a special election in Roseville, committees will be co-chaired by Democrats and Republicans and there will be an equal number of Democrats and Republicans on each committee. At that point, a bipartisan vote will be required to advance a bill out of committee. Full details of the agreement are available here.
“Democrats have succeeded in our fight to protect the will of the voters. The power-sharing agreement we are announcing today ensures that Rep. Brad Tabke will serve his term in office, and ensures Democrats and Republicans will share power when we are in a tie,” said House DFL Leader Melissa Hortman. “A tied House presents a challenge, but it also presents a golden opportunity for members of the Minnesota House to deliver the most bipartisan session Minnesota has ever seen. I still believe that is possible. For anything to get done this session, we have to work together.”
“If Democrats had attended the first day of session without securing a power-sharing agreement, Republicans would have kicked out Rep. Tabke, denying the voters of Shakopee their elected representative, and seized control of the House for two years even when we return to a tie,” said House DFL Floor Leader Jamie Long. “Minnesotans delivered a tied House on Election Night and this power-sharing agreement allows us to work together to address real issues for Minnesotans on affordable housing, health care, child care and more.”