ST. PAUL, MN – Today the Minnesota Senate debated its rules for more than four hours on the second day of session. Democrats proposed keeping remote voting options with even less oversight and disclosure than previously allowed during the COVID pandemic. Despite being in the minority, Senate Republicans successfully passed several amendments to increase transparency and accountability in the rules.

“Senate Republicans are committed to increasing transparency for the public after two years of restrictions and limitations,” Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson said. “We are here to help improve the lives of Minnesotans, and that starts with improving access to elected officials and instilling accountability to their voting records.”

Democrats resisted Republican efforts to require modest disclosure as to the reason for a senator to vote remotely, but the body unanimously voted to include an amendment from Senator Steve Drazkowski (R-Mazeppa) that strips Senators of their per diem for days they are voting remotely. Senators receive $86 a day as an acknowledgement of the costs of serving at the Capitol. If someone is not at the Capitol, they are not incurring those costs and taxpayers shouldn’t be paying for it.

Senator Karin Housley (R-Stillwater) also offered a successful amendment that requires the disclosure of the city and the state from which the senator is voting. This increases transparency for the voting public as to where their senator is spending their time when they are not at the Capitol doing their work.