 Neighbors, Things in the Minnesota House are far from normal. The Minnesota Constitution requires that 68 members of the House must be present to conduct business. On Tuesday, I joined my colleagues in denying quorum to the Republicans due to their refusal to work together on a power-sharing agreement and their intent to unseat a duly elected member of the House despite the fact that a judge ruled Rep. Tabke was duly re-elected. Denying quorum protects the will of the voters in Shakopee and statewide and upholds the rule of law. Rep. Tabke won the election, won the recount and won in court. The refusal to honor legitimate elections is not something we can let gain credibility here in Minnesota. Our democracy is based on accepting the results of free and fair elections. As defenders of democracy, we cannot standby and accept the GOP nullification of votes in elections they clearly lost because it’s 54A today but could easily be 52B tomorrow. These are tenuous times. The DFL has filed lawsuits against the GOP asking the Supreme Court to confirm that all of their actions are null and void. Oral arguments will be this Thursday and until we have a ruling, I will join my DFL colleagues and continue to defend democracy using the tools at our disposal. I want nothing more than for things at the Capitol to return to business as usual. Our most important job during the 2025 legislative session is to pass a state budget, and we do that through committee and floor work. The longer House Republicans pretend to hold session without a quorum the more time is wasted that could go to working together in a bipartisan fashion. I want to work with my Republican colleagues on moving Minnesota forward, which is what Minnesota voters expect from us. I want the bipartisan interim work I did to be heard and considered. And, despite Republicans' efforts to stall legitimate House business, I am continuing to work hard for the residents of District 52B. While we wait for the Republicans to come back to the table, I’m working here in our district and around the metro, taking meetings with our legislative partners, local leaders, and of course, constituents. I’m also working with colleagues to prepare legislation for the biennium to ensure we can hit the ground running once a power-sharing agreement is worked out. While we wait for the Republicans to come back to the table, I’m working here in our district and around the metro, taking meetings with our legislative partners, local leaders, and of course, constituents. I’m also working with colleagues to prepare legislation for the biennium to ensure we can hit the ground running once a power-sharing agreement is worked out.  My main priority is, and always will be, serving my community. Please reach out if you have any questions or if I can be of service. Crop Art in Minnesota!On a lighter note, the U.S. District Court of Minnesota is hosting the first ever Crop Art Exhibition, "Seeds* of Justice (*and other Crop Materials)" in Minneapolis, and they’re looking for art to feature! Artists can submit proposals until February 28, 2025. For submission guidelines and more information, visit bit.ly/CropArt2025.  Stay ConnectedUnfortunately, due to technological constraints, replies to this newsletter won’t reach my email account. To share your input or ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance, please feel free to reach out by email at rep.bianca.virnig@house.mn.gov, or by phone at 651-296-4192. You can contact my new Legislative Assistant, Isabel, at 651-296-5999 or via email at isabel.anderson@house.mn.gov. It is an honor and a privilege to represent you at the Capitol. All my best, Bianca Virnig State Representative |