We need transparency and accountability in the Minnesota Senate
by: SENATOR STEVE DRAZKOWSKI

It has been four years since COVID swept through this country. Even though every other emergency restriction has ended, Democrats who are in the House and Senate majorities continue to operate the legislature under a rule set implemented strictly for the COVID emergency.

You might be asking yourself why you should care about Senate rules fights. I admit, it is not especially exciting. But these abuses are kind of like smoking cigarettes. You don’t immediately feel the harm it’s causing, so you don’t pay too much attention. By the time the damage becomes obvious, it might be too late.

That is why we must shine a light on this abuse right now. Democrats are doing it because they believe they can get away with it. They hold all the power in Minnesota government, and they believe the public does not care.

We are unaware of any other state in the nation that allows remote voting or that continues to operate under Covid-era rules. The United States Congress does not. 

For starters, it is in clear violation of our state constitution, which requires legislators to meet at the seat of government — St. Paul. 

Despite this, Democrats in Minnesota continue to engage in remote voting and do so in a way that undermines the citizens we represent.

According to the rules of the Senate, a member who is present in the Senate chamber must call a member who is voting remotely before every single roll call vote. The member who is present writes down the votes of those who are not present, then simply reads a list of the not-present members and their votes. There is no responsibility for the not-present member to publicly announce or record their vote. 

There were numerous instances last year where the Democrats reported the vote of a not-present member when in fact that member was present and had already voted, or who was in a nearby room. It seriously begs the question about whether the Democrats are following the rule, or if they are just reporting whatever votes they need.

Which means Minnesotans are being disenfranchised by this sham of a process. Remote voting, at least the way that it is currently being used, allows Senators to abdicate their responsibility to their constituents. 

Every time a Senator is remote, they give one of their party leaders their vote. They are surrendering their voice to party bosses in St. Paul. Those party bosses do not have the best interests of our local communities at heart; they care only about advancing their agenda. The debates at the Senate can take many twists and turns, and if a senator isn’t actively engaged in the effort, is their vote really being done in a way that respects the concerns the needs of their own district each time? Or are they simply “voting with the team?”

Think about the most extreme bills that Democrats passed last year. Abortion up to the moment of birth. $10 billion in tax increases. A 40% increase in spending. Gas tax increases. Crippling mandates on schools. Pick the issue that angers you the most and there is a good chance there were Senators who did not participate that day but who had their votes recorded.

We have a constitutional obligation to be present for legislative sessions. That obligation is being ignored because it’s easier for Democrats to further their extreme agenda. Democrats have a single-vote majority, and the absence of just one of their members could cause their agenda to grind to a halt. Remote voting ends the incentive for bipartisan cooperation, or the kind of debate and discussion that creates stronger legislation.

The way Democrats are running our government is fundamentally wrong. Disregarding our foundational rules breeds public cynicism, regardless of which party is in power, and erodes confidence in government.

This cannot be our new normal. Ask yourself: is this the sort of legislature you want? Or do you want a legislature where the rules are followed and the voices of all Minnesotans are represented, where bipartisanship and cooperation are encouraged, and where both parties work together? 

The Senate should immediately adopt permanent rules that eliminate remote participation. We must require legislators to uphold their duty to their constituents and strengthen transparency and accountability.

The need could not be more important.