Activists and interest groups have spent months meticulously planning initiatives to connect community members with their state lawmakers during the legislative session at the Minnesota Capitol.
House DFLers remain absent from the Capitol following the current power struggle with Republicans over control the lower chamber. The two parties are blaming each other for the deadlocked situation.
Now, organizers say they are at a loss about how to proceed with their scheduled events. Should they postpone them? Reschedule them? Cancel them outright? Or hang on and hope for a breakthrough in the standoff?
Black Entrepreneurs Day at the Capitol is scheduled for Feb. 3. The third annual event expects to attract up to 500 Black business owners and their allies. But the plan is jeopardized because of the deadlock in the Minnesota House of Representatives.
“A lot of these business owners are in DFL districts and they are expecting to talk to their legislators – that’s why they’re shutting their businesses down for the day to be there,” said Sheletta Brundidge, Black Entrepreneurs Day event founder and founder of ShelettaMakesMeLaugh.com.
“I’m a small business owner and I know one thing for certain: entrepreneurs don’t have time to waste. I have invited all these business owners to the Capitol to lobby for their companies so they can get access to resources and services, but we can’t do that if half the House is out of the house.”
According to Brian McDaniel, a Republican strategist and Principal at Momentum Advocacy, the boycott and its timing are a big deal.
“I do think they’re going to work something out but until then, it means you can’t have proper floor sessions or proper bill introductions or proper committee meetings. It’s disruptive to the political process,” he said.
“You’re representing the people of Minnesota and that can’t happen properly until everybody is at the Capitol. It would be a shame for people to not be able to talk to their representatives.”
McDaniel pointed out that it will be a challenge for anyone trying to reschedule cancelled events because the Capitol is booked throughout the session and construction in the building has limited event space.
“The situation at the House is tricky,” said Senator Judy Seeberger, DFL-Afton, who is slated to pay tribute to the late Senator Kari Dziedzic during Black Entrepreneurs Day.
“It’s important that, as legislators, we hear from Black entrepreneurs about what is important to them and how we can partner with them to ensure they are successful and get what they need,” she said.
“It’s such a good launching pad for so many of them to meet their legislators –many have never been to the Capitol before and have never met with a legislator before, so to get that opportunity to connect with someone who establishes policy is so important.”
Rep. Jim Nash, R-Waconia, expressed disappointment over the standoff. He said he hopes the boycott will be resolved soon and that his DFL colleagues will be back at work at the Capitol.
“I want to address the bureaucracy to make sure that they are aware that the people in front of them are there to get them help to make their American dream come true,” said Rep. Nash.
“I love when people who have a need and historically have not been listened to are willing to show up and speak to legislators on both sides of the aisle. This is not a partisan issue, this is a fix-the-deficiencies-of-government issue.”
The Minnesota Supreme Court may ultimately decide the House dispute, but until a resolution is reached, event organizers have little choice but to be patient and frustrated.
“I can’t just hope that everything will be okay,” said Brundidge. “These businesses are coming to lobby for themselves. When people travel all the way to St. Paul from Duluth, Rochester, St. Cloud and Alexandria, a legislator from their district needs to be there to listen to them.”