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Taxpayers on hook for MN House battle
As Minnesota Democrats and Republicans battle over who is in control of the Minnesota House of Representatives, taxpayers will likely foot the bill for the legal battle. FOX 9’s Corin Hoggard has the details.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - The war over control of the Minnesota House escalated on Wednesday and taxpayers will apparently foot the bill, or at least most of it.
Taxpayers on the hook
What we know:
Republicans carried on as usual with a regular floor session — albeit a half-empty one — and committee hearings.
The subject of one of those hearings revealed how unusual the situation is, and it ended with taxpayers potentially on the hook for the legal fight.
The first order of business for House Republicans on Wednesday was responding to a pair of petitions filed at the state Supreme Court — one from the Secretary of State and the other from three House DFL leaders.
"We need some outside counsel that represents us as a House after we swore in," said Rep. Elliott Engen (R-White Bear Township).
Who gets the money?
Questioning Close Connections:
Rep. Engen was acting as rules committee chair, in place of Rep. Harry Niska (R-Ramsey), when they voted to have the state pay for three attorneys to represent them.
All three are partners or of counsel for CrossCastle, where Niska is a partner.
"Well, it's absurd," said Rep. Jamie Long (DFL-Minneapolis), who chaired the rules committee in the last session and expected to co-chair it this biennium. "I mean, so they are not only engaging in illegal activity, but they are now using their fake committees to pay themselves, literally."
Niska said the work would be separate from his firm and denied any impropriety.
"My law firm will not benefit from it," Rep. Niska said. "And I don't have a personal interest in it."
What are we paying for?
Dig deeper:
DFL members are paying for their own lawyers from campaign funds.
But taxpayers will fund the Minnesota Secretary of State’s petition, because the attorney general’s office is representing him.
Taxpayers are already paying every single member of the legislature, whether they’re at the Capitol or not.
"I think every day that we have this illegitimate and illegal proceedings going on is a disservice to Minnesotans who just want to see us get back to work together," said Rep. Long.
What's next:
The Republican House proceeded in the half-filled room Wednesday.
They elected a chief clerk and a sergeant at arms, who leaders may now ask to bring Democrats to the Capitol.
Also on the table: Stopping per diem or salary payments to absent members.
"We're going to consider all of our options as we see Democrats continuing to break the law and not show up for work," said Rep. Niska.
When will we know?
Quorum Conundrum :
Democrats are hoping a Supreme Court ruling comes in a couple of weeks.
They've asked the justices to decide whether a quorum requires 68 or 67 members of the 134-member body where only 133 members are currently sworn in.
Secretary of State Steve Simon planned to come to the Capitol every afternoon until he saw a quorum, which he believes is 68 members.
He didn’t come Wednesday, though, and his office tells us House Republicans told him he would be denied entrance.