Minnesota legislators are paid close to $52,000 annually to represent their constituents, pass bills, and set state budgets at the Capitol. However, the 66 Democrats in the Minnesota House have boycotted the legislative session that began on January 14 in the absence of a power-sharing agreement with Republicans. This has brought the chamber to a standstill, with House Democrats collectively being paid over $130,000 during the boycott. On the other hand, the 67 House Republicans have been showing up but have been unable to convene the chamber without a quorum of 68 members.
Efforts to negotiate a deal to get the chamber back to work have not been successful as of Thursday morning. The lack of functioning in the Minnesota House means taxpayers are still footing the bill, with all 133 House members collectively being paid nearly $265,000 in the first two weeks of the legislative session. Republicans have criticized Democrats for not showing up for work and still expecting to be paid, while Democrats have accused Republicans of wasteful spending on “taxpayer-funded sham meetings.”
Despite ongoing tensions between the two parties, both sides have been meeting to try to reach an agreement. House Republicans have even posted a running tally of how much money Democrats have made during the boycott. As the deadlock continues, both parties face criticism for their handling of the situation, with constituents expecting their elected officials to fulfill their duties in representing them at the Capitol.
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