On the Minnesota Senate Floor today, Democrats forced a premature vote on a bonding bill, ignoring Republican insistence that the two parties work together to pass tax relief before moving forward with a bonding bill.

The bill requires a 3/5 majority vote, which is 41 votes and required 7 Republican senators to vote for the bill. It failed to garner even one Republican vote. 

Senator Bill Lieske (R-Lonsdale) issued the following statement:

“The Democrats’ attempt to pass a partisan bonding bill so early in session is a great example of misplaced priorities. Minnesotans are struggling every single day to afford gas, groceries, and energy bills. Yet, there has been virtually no serious effort from Democrats to return the state’s $19 billion surplus to taxpayers. That must be our number one focus – providing people some badly needed relief. Republicans have been clear about our position from the beginning. Instead of trying to threaten us and bully us, I hope Democrats will begin working with us in good faith for the benefit of all Minnesotans.”

Two weeks ago, Senate Republican Leaders made clear they needed to see movement on tax relief before they voted for a bonding bill. Last week, Republicans attempted to bring a bill to eliminate the tax on Social Security to the floor, which was defeated on a party-line vote. Senate Democrats today brought their own bill to eliminate the tax on Social Security in a procedural vote to move it one step forward. However, Democrats failed to take the bill up for an actual vote that would pass it off the Senate floor and send it to the House for consideration.