Minnesota Report
This legal parlance is getting a serious dosage of a challenge. On Sunday, a decision was reached regarding one aspect of the fate of Sen Nicole Mitchell (DFL-57, Woodbury). Her legislative responsibilities have been curtailed, not to the nth degree, but as far as committee and caucus duties, although she is not precluded from floor responsibilities, which is what truly matters.
With a 34-vote-DFL Majority, and the session hanging in the balance, vote although tainted, is essential to final passage of every single piece of legislation this legislative session. The opinions of House Speaker Melissa Hortman (DFL-34B, Brooklyn Park) or Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy (DFL-64, St Paul) and Mitchell’s colleagues may be nice, but as long as the DFL stays unified, Mitchell is the ultimate decider. And unless, she is convicted for felony burglary, she will be able to serve out the balance of her term.
If she decides to cast her vote remotely votes early on the board, and doesn’t remain a hold-out casting her vote at the end of the tabulation, she will be the arbitrator of all that occurs and is sent to the desk of Governor Tim Walz (DFL-MN).
We will argue, this is a serious opportunity for a legislator like Sen Jim Abeler (R