ST. PAUL, Minn. – House Republicans asked the state Supreme Court to force the secretary of state, Steve Simon, to allow them to conduct business even if they dont don’t have a quorum. Three attorneys from the law firm CrossCastle, of which Representative Harry Niska, R-Ramsey, is a partner, filed the petition. Their argument claims that Simon is overstepping his constitutional role as secretary of state by refusing to gavel the House into session without a quorum. The Niska argument is that Simon’s role in the state Constitution to bring the House into session House is merely ceremonial and never intended as a requirement for the House to get going with its business. Prospects for the suit to succeed seem a long shot. The Supreme Court has shied away from heavy duty interference with the Legislature as a separate and independent branch of government – although the Court last week did side with the boycotting Democrats and declared that a quorum for House business needed to be 68 members. There aee only 67 Republicans. Meanwhile, Simon goes to the Minnesota House chamber first thing every morning to check whether a quorum is present. Without even one Democrat present, there is no quorum.
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Niska. In second term from House District 31-A in the northern Twin Cities. A Republican. Holds a law degree from the University of Minnesota.
Simon. Secretary of State since 2015. Democrat. Earlier in Minnesota House from 2005 to 2013 from St. Louis Park, a west Minneapolis suburb. Holds a University of Minnesota law degree,