Dear Neighbors,
As you may know, the house is in a historic conflict. Put simply, the House Republicans are using a temporary situation (without a majority) to try to unseat a fairly elected DFL Representative, despite a district court ruling that he won unequivocally. This is an unacceptable attempt to overturn an election. That is why I – along with my DFL colleagues – have chosen to deny quorum (a term which means the amount of legislators needed to govern legitimately,) until the GOP agrees to seat our duly elected colleague. They also want to ignore our neighbors in 40B (Roseville and Shoreview) who are currently without representation at the Capitol but will soon have after an upcoming special election (that Republicans are trying to delay).
Republicans have plowed ahead anyway, continuing to pretend they are governing without us, even though it violates the state constitution. Even going so far as to unilaterally enrich one of their members using public dollars. Luckily, the Minnesota Supreme Court will consider the case next week, clearing the way for a fair, legal, and binding power-sharing agreement between the two parties. I will note that DFL Leader Hortman has made several reasonable proposals that the GOP has refused to consider.
None of this is fun or desired, but there are certain democratic principles that must be maintained, or else we simply won’t live in a democracy anymore. Withholding quorum is not a matter of partisan politics. It is necessary to preserve our democracy by prohibiting the Republicans from ousting a member who was validly elected.
In the meantime, I am hard at work representing you and our community. The work of a legislator goes beyond the bounds of the Capitol and it is my job to represent you no matter the circumstances. In addition to communicating with constituents and working on bills, I have been busy in our community.
My Work in the Community
Today I had the opportunity to attend the Labor School for Legislators, where I learned about the history of the labor movement in the United States and Minnesota. The power of workers has provided us so many benefits over the years, including weekends – I hope you have a good one!
I also met with Mounds View Mayor Zach Lindstrom to talk about potential legislation. It’s always a pleasure to chat with Mayor Zach about how together we can best serve the residents of Mounds View.
The Mounds View community has come together in support of a Tribute Park dedicated to first responders, military members, and Mounds View residents who died in tragedies. The family of those who died in the Mounds View pipeline explosion years ago spoke about the lasting impact of the first responders, including a young police officer, Bob Jacobson, who is now the Commissioner of Public Safety. The event was incredibly moving, and I was thankful to attend.
I had the opportunity to tour and meet with staff at Conscious Healing Counseling to learn about the Justin Center for Transformation and Healing, in New Brighton. The Justin Center hosts trainings, support groups, and community events with an emphasis on suicide prevention and mental health support. Like so many, I’ve experienced loss due to suicide; I’m so thankful for these wonderful caregivers who are making an impact in our community. Help is always available (call or text 988).
Stay In Touch
Please feel free to contact me directly with your viewpoints or if I can be of assistance. My email is rep.kelly.moller@house.mn.gov and my phone number is 651-296-0141.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.
Sincerely,
Kelly Moller
State Representative