Jan. 27 - WE HAVE ALL BEEN HERE BEFORE

The name plate on the Speaker’s desk of Speaker-designate Lisa Demuth was removed after the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled last week that it takes 68 members to be present to constitute a quorum and organize the House. Speaker- designate Lisa Demuth had been elected with 67 members votes on the opening day of the legislature Jan. 14. This led to legal action on what constitutes a quorum and the final decision by the Minnesota Supreme Court was 68.

The doors of the House Chamber were closed to the public on Tuesday, Jan. 27, while DFL and Republican leaders attempted to resolve a power sharing agreement to organize the House.

A group in support of seating duly elected Shakapee Rep. Brad Tabke rally in the rotunda.

A person circled around the front of the Senate Chamber as Senators dealt with a motion to expel Sen. Niclole Mitchell. Meanwhile in the House Chamber negotiations continued to resolve a power sharing agreement to organize the House.

Sen. Nicole Mitchell, right, leans in to listen to comments from Sen. John Marty prior to the start of the Senate floor session.

Sen. Jordan Rasmussen moves a resolution to expel Sen. Nicole Mitchell after Sen. Mitchell was charged with burglary, a felony, last year. The court has allowed a delay in Sen. Mitchell’s trial until after the 2025 legislative session.

Secretary of the Senate Thomas Bottern, top, and the Co-Presidents of the Senate Jeremy Miller, middle, and Bobby Joe Champion, bottom, huddle to rule on a motion by Sen. Nick Frentz to find Sen. Rasmussen’s motion to expel Sen. Mitchell out of order.

Sen. Nicole Mitchell votes to uphold the ruling of the President of the Senate that the motion to expel Sen. Mitchell was out of order.

Senate Leader Mark Johnson, right, and Sen. Jordan Rasmussen, left, take questions from the press about the action to rule Sen. Rasmussen’s motion to expel Sen. Mitchell out of order.

Senate Leader Erin Murphy takes questions from the press about the action to rule Sen. Rasmussen’s motion to expel Sen. Mitchell out of order.

Secretary of State Steve Simon gavels the House to order. Sec. of State Simon is

the presiding officer of the House until a quorum of 68 members are present and the members can organize the House.

Sixty-seven lights are lit on the voting boards in the House Chamber as a role call of members is taken. It takes 68 members to be present for the House to organize after the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled a quorum of members is 68.

Republican members of the House take photos of the half empty chamber as DFL members continue to boycott the floor session until there is a power sharing agreement to organize the House.

Secretary of State Steve Simon, the presiding officer of the House of Representatives until the body organizes, leaves the Speakers desk after adjourning the House for a lack of a quorum.

Thomas Holien, House Educational Program Coordinator, leads the sessions first group of high school pages up the main aisle and out of the House Chamber after the floor session was adjourned because 68 members are necessary to constitute a quorum. Only 67 members were present.