Bakk announces he plans to ignore Senate rules to get Sen. Marty on Finance Committee

(St. Paul. MN…) Senate Republicans again questioned the Senate DFL’s refusal to approve committee assignments for newly-elected Sen. Jim Abeler (R-Anoka). The request was sent to Majority Leader Tom Bakk the same day Sen. Abeler was sworn in, over two weeks ago.

Instead of approving the simple request to fill Republican vacancies left by Sen. Abeler’s predecessor, as provided for in Senate rules, Sen. Bakk responded that he would do so only if the GOP minority agreed to allow him to stack committees with more DFL senators, including adding Sen. Marty to the Finance Committee in recognition of his new division overseeing important rural issues.

Sen. Bakk announced today on the floor of the Senate he will use the Senate Rules Committee to force a vote on committee assignments, even though Senate rules require the approval of both the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader:

Rule 10.6 After the organization of the Senate and after consultation with and the approval of the minority leader, the Chair of the Committee on Rules and Administration may add members to or delete members from a standing committee or division.

“This abuse of power by Sen. Bakk and the DFL majority should be condemned by all Minnesotans, regardless of political affiliation,” said Republican Leader David Hann. “It is unheard of to deny citizens of Minnesota their voice in the Minnesota Senate. Senator Bakk should do the right thing and allow Sen. Abeler to serve on Senate committees.”