ST PAUL, Minn. — The clock is running down on the 2024 Legislative session with many important pieces of legislation stuck in a political logjam of sorts, as negotiations between House and Senate leaders play out behind closed doors.
There are only six days remaining, and lawmakers have only four of their "session days" left in which they can act on bills. In the Minnesota House, Republicans have been so successful at stretching out debates that Democrats have been forced to table many of their bills until they can find time to consider them.
Republicans Tuesday blamed Democrats for the delay, saying they created the problem by pushing through bills without GOP input.
"What we have seen is that it appears Democrats would rather work with an accused felon for a partisan vote on partisan priorities," Rep. Lisa Demuth of Cold Spring, the House Minority Leader, told reporters.
Rep. Demuth and Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson held a press conference explaining the offers they've made on the Emergency Medical Services bailout bill and the public works construction bonding bill.
"Republicans do represent millions of Minnesotans and their voice deserves to be heard," Demuth remarked. "Legislating is not supposed to be the tyranny of the majority. It is supposed to reflect the values of all Minnesotans."
That bonding bill would put nearly $1 billion into construction projects across the state, with requests for that funding outpacing the available dollars by about a five to one ratio. Republican votes are needed to pass that, because issuing general obligation bonds requires a three-fifths majority — that equates to 81 votes in the House and 41 votes in the Senate.
"Bipartisanship is going to be the spoonful of sugar that makes this whole end of session go down," Sen. Johnson said. "If we can make that happen, working together, that's what Minnesotans expect."
But the GOP leaders said at this point they can't go along with that bonding bill unless Democrats abandon their effort to put the Equal Rights Amendment on the 2026 ballot. Republicans want to keep the ERA off the ballot, asserting voters won't understand it adds abortion rights, sexual orientation rights and gender identity rights to the constitution.
The state's largest anti-abortion organization, Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, has spent millions of dollars advertising against the proposed constitutional amendment. But Sen. Johnson asserted the name of the ERA would be misleading to voters.
"This is just a euphemism, really an attack on religious liberties across the state. With the language that the House tacked on it is a very extreme bill. And they're only using this title ERA on that to get this language across."
The ERA drew big crowds to the Capitol Monday because it was on the house calendar. But, after 11 hours of debate on other bills, Democrats tabled the bill along with two others they had hoped to pass.
Demuth said the Republicans won't be rushed simply because the time is growing short for Democrats to pass their bills.
"You’re right, we are going to debate these things, debate these bills, and take our time making our voices heard and getting our points across," she said.
Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy issued a joint statement late Tuesday in response to the Republican press conference.
"Earlier today, Leaders Demuth and Johnson indicated they would provide the handful of votes needed to pass a capital investment bill in exchange for two simple things: total control of the legislative agenda and the return of partisan gridlock. Neither is acceptable."
The DFL leaders said they have included Republicans in high level negotiations, and there are GOP members in most of the House-Senate conference committees.
"Republicans have jeopardized the completion of important work by intentionally throwing up roadblocks and delays on the floor, in negotiations, and again today by attempting to score political points with the press and public. We appreciate the Republican leaders accepting our offer to meet and hope they can come to the ongoing negotiations in good faith and with an earnest dedication to the best interests of the people of Minnesota."
At one point in Tuesday's news conference, Sen. Johnson described what his fellow Republicans in the House have been doing as a "filibuster" to move the needle on a religious freedom provision in the Human Rights supplemental bill. But Republicans House members pushed back against that term, saying they've been raising serious concerns during those extended debate.
WATCH MORE ON KARE 11+
Download the free KARE 11+ app for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV and other smart TV platforms to watch more from KARE 11 anytime! The KARE 11+ app includes live streams of all of KARE 11's newscasts. You'll also find on-demand replays of newscasts; the latest from KARE 11 Investigates, Breaking the News and the Land of 10,000 Stories; exclusive programs like Verify and HeartThreads; and Minnesota sports talk from our partners at Locked On Minnesota.
- Add KARE 11+ on Roku here or by searching for KARE 11 in the Roku Channel Store.
- Add KARE 11+ on Fire TV here or by searching for KARE 11 in the Amazon App Store.
- Learn more about the KARE 11+ app for Apple TV in the Apple App Store.
- Learn more about KARE 11+ here.
Watch more local news:
Watch the latest local news from the Twin Cities and across Minnesota in our YouTube playlist: