Minnesota Report
We have confirmed, the DFL Legislators intend to stay in St Paul, doing the people’s work and will not be in Rochester to endorse Governor Tim Walz (DFL-MN), Lt Governor Peggy Flanagan (DFL-MN), Attorney General Keith Ellison (DFL-MN) or State Auditor Julie Blaha (DFL-MN). Now, because of remote meeting capacity they could be, but it would send a bad message to the citizen’s of the state and give an impression the DFL members are not doing their work.
We confirmed this with House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler (DFL-46A, Golden Valley) and Assistant Senate Minority Leader Nick Frentz (DFL-19, North Mankato).
That fact the DFL State Convention is being held on the last week of session is pure stupidity and only is the responsibility of DFL Party Chair Ken Martin.
Granted the filing period for office opened on Tuesday, May 17, and will close on May 31, but this scheduling foul-up could have been avoided with attention to greater detail. The fact, the Republicans were in Rochester, and unlike the DFL, which has automatic delegate status for all DFL Constitutional and Legislators, something advance by our publisher Shawn Towle in the 1990’s, a week before the last week of session, did deter some legislative business, but the last week, come on.
Since, Martin is the longest serving DFL Chair looks like a good time for him to consider not running for reelection.