Dear Neighbors,
You may have heard about a tumultuous start to the year as the House prepares for session to begin next week. I wanted to take the time to explain the gravity of the situation and why my DFL colleagues and I are working to protect the integrity of our institution.
This past election, Minnesotans voted for equal numbers of Democratic and Republican state representatives. A 67-67 tie in the 134-member Minnesota House of Representatives is extremely rare, but I have seen it as a golden opportunity for Democrats and Republicans to show Minnesotans that we can govern together on a bipartisan basis.
The issues that I work on are almost always non-partisan in nature and I have never had trouble attracting Republican co-authors for my bills in either the House or the Senate. I have been looking forward to what still could be a very productive session for me and my work on health care reform, housing regulatory reform and cost of living issues like the cost of homeowners insurance. These are not partisan issues.
Unfortunately, my Republican colleagues have walked away from power sharing negotiations and are now attempting to engage in an illegitimate power grab.
During a January 6 press conference, Republicans confirmed they plan to try to use a two-week, one-seat advantage to seize control of the House for the next two years, even though Minnesotans voted for equal numbers of DFL and Republican state representatives. Republicans also made clear that they would use their temporary one-vote advantage to unseat a duly elected DFL state representative and order a special election regardless of the fact he won, in effect disenfranchising 21,980 voters who cast their ballots in the November election. That is outrageous and has never been done in Minnesota history.
I’m calling on my Republican colleagues to abandon their illegitimate power grab, honor the election results, and sign a power-sharing agreement. A majority in the Minnesota House is 68 members, Republicans have only 67 members, and it takes 68 votes to pass a bill, which means we have to work together on a bipartisan basis to get things done.
I am hopeful that a power-sharing agreement can be adopted before the new legislative session begins on January 14. At this time, my focus is on doing everything within my power to make that happen. I have no interest in denying quorum by not attending floor sessions. I want to get to work with my Republican colleagues on January 14 and govern under shared power. This situation can be resolved, but first Republicans need to return to the negotiating table.
Keep in Touch
Don’t hesitate to reach out if I can provide any assistance. Please follow me on my Facebook page for further updates and invite your friends and family to do so as well.
Thanks for the honor of representing you at the Capitol.
Sincerely,
Steve Elkins
Representative, District 50B
Minnesota House of Representatives
rep.steve.elkins@house.mn.gov