Tension is growing between Governor Tim Walz, and Republican leaders as they get down to the business of the people.
During a legislative forum held virtually, Governor Walz joined leaders in both the House and Senate to talk about issues and priorities in the upcoming session. And right out of the gate, leaders were asked to respond to the recent attack on the US capitol; and whether or not it was a free and fair election.
House speaker Melissa Hortman says that laws need to be followed.
"We do not need to have members who can't accept the fundamental tenant that we are a nation of laws and we live in accordance with the rule of law, and we accept free and fair elections without violence."
Republican House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt compared the siege in DC, to the violence that followed the death of George Floyd, and an incident where now Representative John Thompson protested outside the home of Minneapolis Police Federation President Bob Kroll's house.
"It was 6 months ago, when we had a current member of the legislature, stand in a police officer's driveway, and use personally words himself, it's all on video, inciting violence, beating an effigy of the police officers wife, threatening to go burn down communities in this state. And I didn't see that denounced by the leadership in his own party. And you can't have it both ways."
Majority Leader Paul Gazelka also talked about the social unrest this past summer, and the storming of the US capitol as being similar, and responded when Governor Walz charged him with "gaslighting."
"You can call me if you think I'm gaslighting, but I'm actually just trying to condemn it all. What happened in DC was tragic, from the top all the way down and, and yet the process worked, but I'm just saying we should be looking much broader, and there's work to be done and if we can't work together we are in serious trouble."
At one point, Governor Walz decided to leave the discussion out of frustration.
"I'm just going to weigh in and then get off the call, because I am incredibly disappointed in this conversation."
He then disclosed what happened January 6th in St Paul, during a “Storm the Capitol” protest in St. Paul, with protesters threatening his family.
"Because as a result of language that they used, saying they were going to take the Governor and his family prisoner, and there may be causalities, resulted in the first time the state patrol entering the living quarters, and removing my 14 year old son to a safe location, while he's crying looking for his dog and wondered what's going on."
As far as the legitimacy of the election, both he and Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka agreed Joe Biden won. But they stopped short of rejecting claims that the election was rigged.
With tensions this high, it could be tough to get the real work done, namely crafting a two year budget.