STATE OF
MINNESOTA
NINETY-SECOND
SESSION - 2021
_____________________
FIRST
DAY
Saint Paul, Minnesota, Tuesday, January 5, 2021
In accordance with
the Constitution and the Laws of the State of Minnesota, the members-elect of
the House of Representatives assembled in the Chamber of the House of
Representatives in the Capitol in Saint Paul on Tuesday, the fifth day of
January 2021.
At the hour of twelve o'clock noon and pursuant to
Minnesota Statutes 2020, Section 3.05, the Honorable Steve Simon,
Secretary of State, called the members-elect to order and appointed the
Honorable Liz Olson from District 7B as Clerk pro tempore.
Prayer was offered
by the Reverend Denise Dunbar-Perkins, Presbyterian Church of the Twin Cities.
The members-elect
of the House gave the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of
America.
The Clerk pro
tempore called the roll by legislative district in numerical order, and the
following members-elect presented proof of their eligibility to be sworn in and
seated as members of the House of Representatives:
1A............................. John
Burkel
1B............................. Debra
(Deb) Kiel
2A.............................
2B............................. Steve
Green
3A............................. Rob
Ecklund
3B............................. Mary
Murphy
4A............................. Heather
Keeler
4B............................. Paul
Marquart
5A............................. Matt
Bliss
5B............................. Spencer
Igo
6A............................. Julie
Sandstede
6B............................. Dave
Lislegard
7A............................. Jennifer
Schultz
7B............................. Liz
Olson
8A............................. Jordan
Rasmusson
8B............................. Mary
Franson
9A............................. John
M. Poston
9B............................. Ron
Kresha
10A........................... Josh
Heintzeman
10B........................... Dale
K. Lueck
11A........................... Mike
Sundin
11B........................... Nathan
Nelson
12A........................... Jeffery
W. Backer
12B........................... Paul
H. Anderson
13A........................... Lisa
Demuth
13B........................... Tim
O'Driscoll
14A........................... Tama
Theis
14B........................... Dan
Wolgamott
15A........................... Sondra
Erickson
15B........................... Shane
Mekeland
16A........................... Chris
Swedzinski
16B........................... Paul
Torkelson
17A........................... Tim
Miller
17B........................... Dave
Baker
18A........................... Dean
Urdahl
18B........................... Glenn
Gruenhagen
19A........................... Susan
Akland
19B........................... Luke
Frederick
20A........................... Brian
Pfarr
20B........................... Todd
Lippert
21A Barb
Haley
21B........................... Steve
Drazkowski
22A........................... Joe
Schomacker
22B........................... Rod
Hamilton
23A........................... Bjorn
Olson
23B........................... Jeremy
Munson
24A........................... John
Petersburg
24B........................... Brian
Daniels
25A........................... Duane
Robert Quam
25B........................... Liz
Boldon
26A........................... Tina
Liebling
26B........................... Nels
T. Pierson
27A........................... Peggy
Bennett
27B........................... Patricia
Mueller
28A........................... Gene
Pelowski, Jr.
28B........................... Gregory
M. Davids
29A........................... Joe
McDonald
29B........................... Marion
O'Neill
30A........................... Paul
Novotny
30B........................... Eric
Lucero
31A........................... Kurt
Daudt
31B........................... Cal
K. Bahr
32A........................... Brian
Johnson
32B........................... Anne
Neu Brindley
33A........................... Jerry
Hertaus
33B........................... Kelly
Morrison
34A........................... Kristin
Robbins
34B........................... Kristin
Bahner
35A........................... John
Heinrich
35B........................... Peggy
Scott
36A........................... Zack
Stephenson
36B........................... Melissa
Hortman
37A........................... Erin
Koegel
37B........................... Nolan
West
38A........................... Donald
Raleigh
38B........................... Ami
Wazlawik
39A........................... Bob
Dettmer
39B........................... Shelly
Christensen
40A........................... Michael
V. Nelson
40B........................... Samantha
Vang
41A........................... Connie
Bernardy
41B........................... Sandra
Feist
42A........................... Kelly
Moller
42B........................... Jamie
Becker-Finn
43A........................... Peter
M. Fischer
43B........................... Leon
M. Lillie
44A........................... Ginny
Klevorn
44B........................... Patty
Acomb
45A........................... Cedrick
Rommel Frazier
45B........................... Mike
Freiberg
46A........................... Ryan
Winkler
46B........................... Cheryl
Youakim
47A........................... Jim
Nash
47B........................... Greg
Boe
48A........................... Laurie
Pryor
48B........................... Carlie
Kotyza-Witthuhn
49A........................... Heather
Edelson
49B........................... Steve
Elkins
50A........................... Michael
Howard
50B........................... Andrew
Carlson
51A........................... Sandra
Masin
51B........................... Liz
Reyer
52A........................... Rick
Hansen
52B........................... Ruth
Richardson
53A........................... Tou
Xiong
53B........................... Steve
Sandell
54A........................... Keith
Franke
54B........................... Tony
Jurgens
55A........................... Erik
Mortensen
55B........................... Tony
Albright
56A........................... Jessica
Hanson
56B........................... Kaela
Berg
57A........................... Robert
Bierman
57B........................... John
D. Huot
58A........................... Jon
Koznick
58B........................... Pat
Garofalo
59A........................... Fue
Lee
59B........................... Esther
Agbaje
60A........................... Sydney
Jordan
60B........................... Mohamud
Noor
61A........................... Frank
Hornstein
61B........................... Jamie
Long
62A........................... Hodan
Hassan
62B........................... Aisha
Gomez
63A........................... Jim
Davnie
63B........................... Emma
Greenman
64A........................... Kaohly
Her
64B........................... Dave
Pinto
65A........................... Rena
Moran
65B........................... Carlos
Mariani
66A........................... Alice
Hausman
66B........................... Athena
Hollins
67A........................... John
Thompson
67B........................... Jay
Xiong
133 eligible persons answered to the call by legislative district.
OATH OF OFFICE
The members-elect subscribed to the oath of office as administered to them by the Honorable Associate Justice Paul Thissen.
The members took their seats in the Chamber of the House of Representatives.
The
roll was called and the following members were present:
Acomb
Agbaje
Akland
Albright
Anderson
Backer
Bahner
Bahr
Baker
Becker-Finn
Bennett
Berg
Bernardy
Bierman
Bliss
Boe
Boldon
Burkel
Carlson
Christensen
Daniels
Daudt
Davids
Davnie
Demuth
Dettmer
Drazkowski
Ecklund
Edelson
Elkins
Erickson
Feist
Fischer
Franke
Franson
Frazier
Frederick
Freiberg
Garofalo
Gomez
Green
Greenman
Gruenhagen
Haley
Hamilton
Hansen, R.
Hanson, J.
Hassan
Hausman
Heinrich
Heintzeman
Her
Hertaus
Hollins
Hornstein
Hortman
Howard
Huot
Igo
Johnson
Jordan
Jurgens
Keeler
Kiel
Klevorn
Koegel
Kotyza-Witthuhn
Koznick
Kresha
Lee
Liebling
Lillie
Lippert
Lislegard
Long
Lucero
Lueck
Mariani
Marquart
Masin
McDonald
Mekeland
Miller
Moller
Moran
Morrison
Mortensen
Mueller
Munson
Murphy
Nash
Nelson, M.
Nelson, N.
Neu Brindley
Noor
Novotny
O'Driscoll
Olson, B.
Olson, L.
O'Neill
Pelowski
Petersburg
Pfarr
Pierson
Pinto
Poston
Pryor
Quam
Raleigh
Rasmusson
Reyer
Richardson
Robbins
Sandell
Sandstede
Schomacker
Schultz
Scott
Stephenson
Sundin
Swedzinski
Theis
Thompson
Torkelson
Urdahl
Vang
Wazlawik
West
Winkler
Wolgamott
Xiong, J.
Xiong, T.
Youakim
A
quorum was present.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
The Secretary of State announced the next order of business to be the election of the Speaker.
The name of Melissa Hortman was placed in nomination by Moran. The nomination was seconded by Lillie.
The name of Kurt Daudt was placed in nomination by Torkelson. The nomination was seconded by Demuth.
There being no further nominations, the Secretary of State declared the nominations closed.
The Clerk pro tempore called the roll on the election of a Speaker.
The following members of the House voted for
Hortman:
Acomb
Agbaje
Bahner
Becker-Finn
Berg
Bernardy
Bierman
Boldon
Carlson
Christensen
Davnie
Ecklund
Edelson
Elkins
Feist
Fischer
Frazier
Frederick
Freiberg
Gomez
Greenman
Hansen, R.
Hanson, J.
Hassan
Hausman
Her
Hollins
Hornstein
Hortman
Howard
Huot
Jordan
Keeler
Klevorn
Koegel
Kotyza-Witthuhn
Lee
Liebling
Lillie
Lippert
Lislegard
Long
Mariani
Marquart
Masin
Moller
Moran
Morrison
Murphy
Nelson, M.
Noor
Olson, L.
Pelowski
Pinto
Pryor
Reyer
Richardson
Sandell
Sandstede
Schultz
Stephenson
Sundin
Thompson
Vang
Wazlawik
Winkler
Wolgamott
Xiong, J.
Xiong, T.
Youakim
Hortman received 70 votes.
The
following members of the House voted for Daudt:
Akland
Albright
Anderson
Backer
Baker
Bennett
Bliss
Boe
Burkel
Daniels
Daudt
Davids
Demuth
Dettmer
Erickson
Franke
Franson
Garofalo
Green
Gruenhagen
Haley
Hamilton
Heinrich
Heintzeman
Hertaus
Igo
Johnson
Jurgens
Kiel
Koznick
Kresha
Lueck
McDonald
Mekeland
Mueller
Nash
Nelson, N.
Neu Brindley
Novotny
O'Driscoll
Olson, B.
O'Neill
Petersburg
Pfarr
Pierson
Poston
Quam
Raleigh
Rasmusson
Robbins
Schomacker
Scott
Swedzinski
Theis
Torkelson
Urdahl
West
Daudt received 57 votes.
Melissa Hortman, having received a majority of the votes cast, was declared duly elected Speaker of the House of Representatives.
OATH OF OFFICE
The oath of office was administered to Speaker-elect Melissa Hortman by the Honorable Associate Justice Paul Thissen. The Speaker expressed her appreciation for the honor bestowed upon her.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER
The Speaker announced the appointment of the following members of the House to the Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration:
Winkler, Chair; Agbaje, Vice Chair; Her; Jordan; Lillie; Long; Moran; Pelowski; Pryor; Wolgamott; Daudt; Haley; Nash; Neu Brindley; Olson, B.; and Bahr.
The Speaker announced the next order of business to be the election of the Chief Clerk.
The name of Patrick D. Murphy was placed in nomination by Moran. The nomination was seconded by Daudt.
There being no further nominations, the Speaker declared the nominations closed.
The Clerk pro tempore called the roll on
the election of the Chief Clerk and the following voted for Murphy:
Acomb
Agbaje
Akland
Albright
Anderson
Backer
Bahner
Bahr
Baker
Becker-Finn
Bennett
Berg
Bernardy
Bierman
Bliss
Boe
Boldon
Burkel
Carlson
Christensen
Daniels
Daudt
Davids
Davnie
Demuth
Dettmer
Drazkowski
Ecklund
Edelson
Elkins
Erickson
Feist
Fischer
Franke
Franson
Frazier
Frederick
Freiberg
Garofalo
Gomez
Green
Greenman
Gruenhagen
Haley
Hamilton
Hansen, R.
Hanson, J.
Hassan
Hausman
Heinrich
Heintzeman
Her
Hertaus
Hollins
Hornstein
Howard
Huot
Igo
Johnson
Jordan
Jurgens
Keeler
Kiel
Klevorn
Koegel
Kotyza-Witthuhn
Koznick
Kresha
Lee
Liebling
Lillie
Lippert
Lislegard
Long
Lucero
Lueck
Mariani
Marquart
Masin
McDonald
Mekeland
Miller
Moller
Moran
Morrison
Mortensen
Mueller
Munson
Murphy
Nash
Nelson, M.
Nelson, N.
Neu Brindley
Noor
Novotny
O'Driscoll
Olson, B.
Olson, L.
O'Neill
Pelowski
Petersburg
Pfarr
Pierson
Pinto
Poston
Pryor
Quam
Raleigh
Rasmusson
Reyer
Richardson
Robbins
Sandell
Sandstede
Schomacker
Schultz
Scott
Stephenson
Sundin
Swedzinski
Theis
Thompson
Torkelson
Urdahl
Vang
Wazlawik
West
Winkler
Wolgamott
Xiong, J.
Xiong, T.
Youakim
Spk. Hortman
Patrick D. Murphy, having received a majority of the votes cast, was declared duly elected Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives.
OATH OF OFFICE
The oath of office was administered to the Chief Clerk-elect by the Speaker.
The Speaker announced the next order of business to be the election of other elected officers of the House of Representatives.
Winkler offered the following resolution and moved its adoption:
Resolved, that the election of other officers, with the exception of the Chief Sergeant at Arms, be made on one roll call unless there should be more than one nomination for any one office.
The motion prevailed and the resolution was adopted.
Winkler placed the following names in nomination for elected officers of the Minnesota House of Representatives:
The name of Timothy M. Johnson for First Assistant Chief Clerk.
The name of Gail C. Romanowski for Second Assistant Chief Clerk.
The name of Erica Brynildson for Assistant Sergeant at Arms.
The name of Andrew Olson for Assistant Sergeant at Arms.
The name of Carl Hamre for Index Clerk.
There being no further nominations, the Speaker declared the nominations closed.
The
Chief Clerk called the roll on the election of the other officers and the
following members voted for the other officers:
Acomb
Agbaje
Akland
Albright
Anderson
Backer
Bahner
Bahr
Baker
Becker-Finn
Bennett
Berg
Bernardy
Bierman
Bliss
Boe
Boldon
Burkel
Carlson
Christensen
Daniels
Daudt
Davids
Davnie
Demuth
Dettmer
Drazkowski
Ecklund
Edelson
Elkins
Erickson
Feist
Fischer
Franke
Franson
Frazier
Frederick
Freiberg
Garofalo
Gomez
Green
Greenman
Gruenhagen
Haley
Hamilton
Hansen, R.
Hanson, J.
Hassan
Hausman
Heinrich
Heintzeman
Her
Hertaus
Hollins
Hornstein
Howard
Huot
Igo
Johnson
Jordan
Jurgens
Keeler
Kiel
Klevorn
Koegel
Kotyza-Witthuhn
Koznick
Kresha
Lee
Liebling
Lillie
Lippert
Lislegard
Long
Lucero
Lueck
Mariani
Marquart
Masin
McDonald
Mekeland
Miller
Moller
Moran
Morrison
Mortensen
Mueller
Munson
Murphy
Nash
Nelson, M.
Nelson, N.
Neu Brindley
Noor
Novotny
O'Driscoll
Olson, B.
Olson, L.
O'Neill
Pelowski
Petersburg
Pfarr
Pierson
Pinto
Poston
Pryor
Quam
Raleigh
Rasmusson
Reyer
Richardson
Robbins
Sandell
Sandstede
Schomacker
Schultz
Scott
Stephenson
Sundin
Swedzinski
Theis
Thompson
Torkelson
Urdahl
Vang
Wazlawik
West
Winkler
Wolgamott
Xiong, J.
Xiong, T.
Youakim
Spk. Hortman
The nominees, having received a majority of the votes cast, were declared duly elected to their respective offices.
OATH OF OFFICE
The oath of office was administered by the Speaker to those elected to the above offices.
The Speaker announced the next order of business to be the election of the Chief Sergeant at Arms.
The name of Robert Meyerson was placed in
nomination by Ecklund. The nomination
was seconded by Daudt.
There being no further nominations, the Speaker declared the nominations closed.
The Chief Clerk called the roll on the
election of the Chief Sergeant at Arms and the following voted for Meyerson:
Acomb
Agbaje
Akland
Albright
Anderson
Backer
Bahner
Bahr
Baker
Becker-Finn
Bennett
Berg
Bernardy
Bierman
Bliss
Boe
Boldon
Burkel
Carlson
Christensen
Daniels
Daudt
Davids
Davnie
Demuth
Dettmer
Drazkowski
Ecklund
Edelson
Elkins
Erickson
Feist
Fischer
Franke
Franson
Frazier
Frederick
Freiberg
Garofalo
Gomez
Green
Greenman
Gruenhagen
Haley
Hamilton
Hansen, R.
Hanson, J.
Hassan
Hausman
Heinrich
Heintzeman
Her
Hertaus
Hollins
Hornstein
Howard
Huot
Igo
Johnson
Jordan
Jurgens
Keeler
Kiel
Klevorn
Koegel
Kotyza-Witthuhn
Koznick
Kresha
Lee
Liebling
Lillie
Lippert
Lislegard
Long
Lucero
Lueck
Mariani
Marquart
Masin
McDonald
Mekeland
Miller
Moller
Moran
Morrison
Mortensen
Mueller
Munson
Murphy
Nash
Nelson, M.
Nelson, N.
Neu Brindley
Noor
Novotny
O'Driscoll
Olson, B.
Olson, L.
O'Neill
Pelowski
Petersburg
Pfarr
Pierson
Pinto
Poston
Pryor
Quam
Raleigh
Rasmusson
Reyer
Richardson
Robbins
Sandell
Sandstede
Schomacker
Schultz
Scott
Stephenson
Sundin
Swedzinski
Theis
Thompson
Torkelson
Urdahl
Vang
Wazlawik
West
Winkler
Wolgamott
Xiong, J.
Xiong, T.
Youakim
Spk. Hortman
Robert Meyerson, having received a majority of the votes cast, was declared duly elected Chief Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives.
OATH OF OFFICE
The oath of office was administered to the Chief Sergeant at Arms-elect by the Speaker.
Winkler offered the following resolution and moved its adoption:
Resolved, that the Chief Clerk be instructed to inform the Senate by message that the House is duly organized pursuant to law.
The motion prevailed and the resolution was adopted.
Winkler offered the following resolution and moved its adoption:
Resolved, that the Chief Clerk be instructed to inform the Governor by message that the House of Representatives is now duly organized pursuant to law and ready to receive any message he may desire to give them.
The motion prevailed and the resolution was adopted.
Winkler offered the following resolution and moved its adoption:
Resolved, that necessary employees as directed by the Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration be authorized by the House effective today, Tuesday, January 5, 2021, to better expedite the business of the House.
The
question was taken on the Winkler motion and the roll was called. There
were 132 yeas and 0 nays as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative were:
Acomb
Agbaje
Akland
Albright
Anderson
Backer
Bahner
Bahr
Baker
Becker-Finn
Bennett
Berg
Bernardy
Bierman
Bliss
Boe
Boldon
Burkel
Carlson
Christensen
Daniels
Daudt
Davids
Davnie
Demuth
Dettmer
Drazkowski
Ecklund
Edelson
Elkins
Erickson
Feist
Fischer
Franke
Franson
Frazier
Frederick
Freiberg
Garofalo
Gomez
Green
Greenman
Gruenhagen
Haley
Hamilton
Hansen, R.
Hanson, J.
Hassan
Hausman
Heinrich
Heintzeman
Her
Hertaus
Hollins
Hornstein
Howard
Huot
Igo
Johnson
Jordan
Jurgens
Keeler
Kiel
Klevorn
Koegel
Kotyza-Witthuhn
Koznick
Kresha
Lee
Liebling
Lillie
Lippert
Lislegard
Long
Lucero
Lueck
Mariani
Marquart
Masin
Mekeland
Miller
Moller
Moran
Morrison
Mortensen
Mueller
Munson
Murphy
Nash
Nelson, M.
Nelson, N.
Neu Brindley
Noor
Novotny
O'Driscoll
Olson, B.
Olson, L.
O'Neill
Pelowski
Petersburg
Pfarr
Pierson
Pinto
Poston
Pryor
Quam
Raleigh
Rasmusson
Reyer
Richardson
Robbins
Sandell
Sandstede
Schomacker
Schultz
Scott
Stephenson
Sundin
Swedzinski
Theis
Thompson
Torkelson
Urdahl
Vang
Wazlawik
West
Winkler
Wolgamott
Xiong, J.
Xiong, T.
Youakim
Spk. Hortman
The motion prevailed and the resolution relating to employees was adopted.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER
The Speaker announced the appointment of Representative Olson, L., as Speaker pro tempore, and Representatives Richardson, Moller, Vang, Davids and Carlson as deputy Speakers pro tempore for the 2021-2022 session.
Winkler offered the following resolution and moved its adoption:
Resolved, that the selection of permanent desks shall be as directed by the Speaker as follows:
(1) that the DFL majority caucus shall
occupy section 3, seats 67 and 68; section 4, seats 70 to 97; section 5, seats
99 to 119; and section 6, seats 120 to 138.
All members of the majority caucus shall be seated in the manner
prescribed by the DFL majority caucus.
(2) that the Republican minority caucus shall occupy section 1, seats 1 to 19; section 2, seats 22 to 40; and section 3, seats 42 to 62. All members of the minority caucus shall be seated in the manner prescribed by the Republican minority caucus.
(3) that the New House Republican caucus shall occupy section 2, seat 41; and section 3, seats 63 to 66. All members of the New House Republican caucus shall be seated in the manner prescribed by the New House Republican caucus.
The motion prevailed and the resolution was adopted.
MESSAGES FROM
THE SENATE
The
following messages were received from the Senate:
Madam Speaker:
This is to notify you that the Senate is now duly organized pursuant to the Minnesota Constitution and Minnesota Statutes.
Cal R. Ludeman, Secretary of the Senate
Madam Speaker:
I have the honor to announce that the Senate of the State of Minnesota is now duly organized pursuant to law with the election of the following officers:
Cal R. Ludeman, Secretary of the Senate
Colleen J. Pacheco, First Assistant Secretary of the Senate
Michael R. Linn, Second Assistant Secretary of the Senate
Melissa G. Mapes, Engrossing Secretary
Sven K. Lindquist, Sergeant at Arms
Marilyn Logan, Assistant Sergeant at Arms
Pastor Mike Smith, Chaplain
Cal R. Ludeman, Secretary of the Senate
POINT
OF ORDER
Mortensen raised a point of order pursuant
to rule 1.11, relating to First Reading and Reference of Bills. The Speaker ruled the point of order not well
taken.
Daudt appealed
the decision of the Speaker.
A roll call was
requested and properly seconded.
The vote was
taken on the question "Shall the decision of the Speaker stand as the
judgment of the House?" and the roll was called. There were 70 yeas and 63 nays as follows:
Those who voted
in the affirmative were:
Acomb
Agbaje
Bahner
Becker-Finn
Berg
Bernardy
Bierman
Boldon
Carlson
Christensen
Davnie
Ecklund
Edelson
Elkins
Feist
Fischer
Frazier
Frederick
Freiberg
Gomez
Greenman
Hansen, R.
Hanson, J.
Hassan
Hausman
Her
Hollins
Hornstein
Howard
Huot
Jordan
Keeler
Klevorn
Koegel
Kotyza-Witthuhn
Lee
Liebling
Lillie
Lippert
Lislegard
Long
Mariani
Marquart
Masin
Moller
Moran
Morrison
Murphy
Nelson, M.
Noor
Olson, L.
Pelowski
Pinto
Pryor
Reyer
Richardson
Sandell
Sandstede
Schultz
Stephenson
Sundin
Thompson
Vang
Wazlawik
Winkler
Wolgamott
Xiong, J.
Xiong, T.
Youakim
Spk. Hortman
Those who voted
in the negative were:
Akland
Albright
Anderson
Backer
Bahr
Baker
Bennett
Bliss
Boe
Burkel
Daniels
Daudt
Davids
Demuth
Dettmer
Drazkowski
Erickson
Franke
Franson
Garofalo
Green
Gruenhagen
Haley
Hamilton
Heinrich
Heintzeman
Hertaus
Igo
Johnson
Jurgens
Kiel
Koznick
Kresha
Lucero
Lueck
McDonald
Mekeland
Miller
Mortensen
Mueller
Munson
Nash
Nelson, N.
Neu Brindley
Novotny
O'Driscoll
Olson, B.
O'Neill
Petersburg
Pfarr
Pierson
Poston
Quam
Raleigh
Rasmusson
Robbins
Schomacker
Scott
Swedzinski
Theis
Torkelson
Urdahl
West
So it was the
judgment of the House that the decision of the Speaker should stand.
PROTEST
AND DISSENT
Pursuant to
Article IV, Section 11 of the Minnesota Constitution, we the undersigned
members of the Minnesota House of Representatives register our protest and
dissent against eight members of the Minnesota House of Representatives for
their endorsement of a seditious, unfounded, and divisive lawsuit brought by
the State of Texas in a vain attempt to nullify the fair, lawful, and
appropriate election of President-elect Joseph Biden and Vice President-elect
Kamala Harris.
On December 10, 2020, the below
mentioned members caused to be sent to the Honorable Ken Paxton, Attorney
General of the State of Texas, a letter endorsing the lawsuit brought by that
State, and in this letter impugned both the State of Minnesota and its duly
elected Secretary of State. The letter
said:
"Considering the totality of the
circumstances, we believe that Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon
knowingly and deliberately conducted an illegal election by virtue of his
manipulation of the law. As legislators,
we were dismissed and our authority was overruled by an individual that was not
interested in following the law."
This statement
was made without evidence, was incorrect either as a statement of fact or of
law, and brought dishonor upon the members who made this statement.
The 2020 election
in Minnesota was conducted with the highest probity, skill, and accuracy. This is a statement of fact. To deny this statement is itself a moment of
dishonor in the career of these elected officials.
These members
were:
Representative
Steve Drazkowski
Representative
Jeremy Munson
Representative
Tim Miller
Representative
Cal Bahr
Representative
Eric Lucero
Representative
Mary Franson
Representative
Glenn Gruenhagen
Representative
Shane Mekeland
We the undersigned find the behavior of these members
reprehensible, and their endorsement of a lawsuit rejected by the entirety of
the Supreme Court of the United States of America as a sad and divisive moment
that was harmful to the sound workings of the American polity. We urge these members and their supporters to
repent of their foolish statements, acquaint themselves with the basic facts of
fair elections, and to apologize in the total fullness of the knowledge of
their graceless lack of honest, comity, and wisdom.
Rick Hansen Tina
Liebling
Jamie Becker-Finn Peter Fischer
Fue Lee Jennifer
Schultz
Sydney Jordan Ruth
Richardson
ADJOURNMENT
Winkler moved
that when the House adjourns today it adjourn until 12:00 noon, Thursday,
January 7, 2021. The motion prevailed.
Winkler moved
that the House adjourn. The motion
prevailed, and the Speaker declared the House stands adjourned until 12:00
noon, Thursday, January 7, 2021.
Patrick D. Murphy, Chief Clerk, House of
Representatives