ST. PAUL, Minn. — On Thursday, Governor Tim Walz called on legislators to resolve a conflict that has hindered the opening week of Minnesota’s 2025 legislative session. He showed his support for House Democrats’ decision to boycott the chamber as a means to prevent Republicans from imposing their will during this period.
Currently, House Republicans enjoy a narrow 67-66 majority due to a vacancy that will be filled in a special election set for January 28. The Democrats are arguing that the state constitution mandates a quorum of 68 members to conduct any legislative business, which means that without their presence in the chamber, proceedings cannot take place.
“We need to come together on a power-sharing agreement,” Walz stressed to lawmakers while presenting his budget plan for the next two fiscal years. He projected optimism about the potential benefits of such an arrangement.
House Republicans, however, contend that they only require 67 members in attendance given the vacant seat. In the absence of Democratic attendance, they have already elected their leader as speaker and have made other key appointments within the chamber. Next Thursday, the state Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on the legality of the Republicans’ actions.
Walz expressed confidence that the upcoming special election in a district that heavily leans Democratic will likely lead to a 67-67 deadlock in the House. He encouraged Republicans to reconsider their strategy and not escalate the situation further, emphasizing that continued conflict would not yield favorable outcomes in court or public perception. “You’re simply not going to overturn an election,” Walz remarked.
The primary objective of this legislative session is to craft a balanced budget for the next two years, starting July 1, which will necessitate cooperation across party lines. Both sides agree that legislative operations cannot move forward without 68 votes, thus collaborative efforts will eventually be essential.
Governor Walz’s proposed budget of $65.9 billion features a slight reduction in the sales tax rate, decreasing it from 6.875% to 6.8%. This adjustment equates to a savings of 7.5 cents on every $100 spent. The reduction will be compensated for by expanding the sales tax to encompass services that are currently untaxed and by closing several loopholes. His budget aims to moderate the growth of certain funding programs that benefit seniors and special education and includes some measures to reduce government program fraud, although it lacks many new initiatives.
“You have an opportunity here to decrease state spending, reduce taxes, and enhance fairness within the system,” Walz stated, while clarifying that he is not introducing new services but is instead focusing on improving efficiency. “This is all relatively uncontroversial.”
In contrasting sentiments, House Republican leader Lisa Demuth expressed strong disapproval of the governor’s proposal, stating that Republicans will not endorse any tax increases or cuts that would adversely affect seniors residing in nursing facilities. She also made it clear that the GOP intends to continue its opposition.
“I regret that I have not had any direct communication with him,” Demuth said following a brief meeting of Republican members. “If he aims to encourage the other House members to fulfill their roles, it would be greatly appreciated.”
Demuth and House Democrat leader Melissa Hortman had nearly finalized a power-sharing deal last month, but it fell through after a court determined that a Democratic member was ineligible to represent his district. This ruling handed Republicans their slender majority.
On Thursday, Hortman renewed her proposal to Demuth, suggesting that the Republicans be recognized as the majority until February 3, when the initial power-sharing agreement would once again come into effect. This proposal is contingent upon the Republicans agreeing to refrain from attempting to displace another Democrat who won by a mere 14 votes.
“The course you have taken and the current developments in the Minnesota House are extremely troubling,” Hortman conveyed in her message to Demuth, adding that “we owe it to the state to collaborate and find a resolution to our disagreements.”
