Legislative Update
Dear Neighbors,
Minnesotans expect government to work in the open, not behind closed doors. Yet the current process unfolding around a possible special session undermines both our statutes and our constitution.
Here's what the law actually says; under article IV section 12 of the Minnesota Constitution, only the governor can call a special session, and he must do so by proclamation. Once convened, however, it is the legislature not the governor that decides what bills to consider and how long to meet. The governor's role is limited to signing or vetoing whatever legislation reaches his desk.
That structure is deliberate. It preserves balance between the branches of government. The governor can bring lawmakers back to St Paul in "extraordinary occasions”, but he cannot dictate their agenda. Legislators, meanwhile, retain their right to write and debate bills, and the governor may then exercise his veto authority according to the law.
But what we're seeing now is something different. Governor Walz is demanding that legislative leaders have deals cut behind closed doors, drafting agreements that spell out which bills will be considered and which ones won't before a theoretical special session even begins. These prepackaged arrangements effectively reduce the legislature to a rubber stamp.
That practice runs directly against the letter and spirit of our constitution. It deprives rank and file lawmakers of their constitutional role and, more importantly, shuts the public out of the process. When leadership scripts the outcome in advance, the people's representatives are sidelined, and transparency is lost.
The point is simple; if Minnesotans are to have confidence in their government, the process must follow the rules. The governor calls the special session. The legislature writes the bills. The governor can sign or veto. Anything more -or less -is a violation of both the law and public trust.
We should not allow back-room agreements to replace open debate. Minnesota deserves lawmakers that follow the constitution, not shortcuts that bend it.
Please reach out to me if you have any questions or comments, my contact information can be found below. Have a great weekend.
Mike
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