A Senate ethics committee meeting Thursday is just the latest attempt by Republicans to oust DFL Senator Nicole Mitchell (Woodbury).
Mitchell faces first degree burglary charges for breaking into her stepmother's home last year and is awaiting a trial that has been delayed until after the legislative session ends.
This marks the third time the committee has met about the issue. This time they claim Mitchell violated conflict-of-interest rules in voting on a motion related to her possible expulsion when she voted on the issue of her own removal.
"The ethics committee is made up of two Republicans and two Democrats, so therefore any action or motion to take action against Senator Nicole Mitchell will likely end in a tie," explains WCCO's Political Analyst Blois Olson.
Olson added that previously the subcommittee agreed to wait until after the resolution of Mitchell’s criminal case to take action - and that will likely be the case again.
"Republicans continue to hold the position that, you know, this is a black eye and a dark spot for the Minnesota Senate," he says. "And that somehow, some way, she shouldn't be there. Democrats will contend that she is due justice in the court system."
House Moves Forward with Tie
Now that dust has settled after the special election in District 40B (Roseville-Shorview), leaders in the House begin the work of meeting with equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans.
Republican Speaker of the House Lisa Demuth (Cold Spring) says the power sharing agreement that was reached earlier in the session will serve them well. But, as far as budget talks go?
"So we've got some hard decisions to make, but this is a perfect time, with a 67, 67 tie, equal," says Demuth. "You know, there's no Democrat trifecta anymore, but equal representation for all of Minnesota. We can find solutions and get this work done on time."
Despite getting a later start to negotiations, Demuth says she doesn't want a special session. But she also understands it may be unavoidable.
"Now, I will say, if there are changes potentially at a federal level that could impact us, doing a supplemental budget later on in the year may be needed and for that we would consider a special session," Demuth explains.
The session has to end on May 19 with a balanced budget intact.
House Speaker Emerita and DFL Leader Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) said she had a “good conversation” on Wednesday with Demuth and hopes there’ll be a shift from bills favored by only Republicans to more bipartisan bills next week after new DFL House member David Gottfried is sworn-in.
“I think we’re both ready to turn the page and start working together,” Hortman said.