Gates shut. Republicans have declared Secretary of State Steve Simon neither wanted nor needed. The sergeant-of-arms was told not to let Simon enter the barred gates to the House chamber. This means Simon cannot do his job, as defined in the state constitiuton, to deteiune whether a quorum is present House proceedings cannot proceed legally without a quorum .
Constitutional crisis looms over quorum
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota’s secretary of state, Steve Simon, said he has been locked out of the House chambers by Republicans who have taken unilateral control of the House without a quorum. Simon’s constitutional duty is to convene the annual session of the Legislature after determining that enough members are present to conduct business – the conventional “quorum” in parliamentary rules. With every Democrat boycotting the session in a feud over House rules, Simon on Tuesday declared a quorum was absent and adjourned the session. Republicans, however, proceeded anyway. Simon said he had intended to return every day as part of his constitutional duties to check whether a quorum were present so he could declare the session official. Meanwhile, the boycotting Democrats have gone to the state Supreme Court with a claim the Republicans have gone rogue with an outlaw renegade charade. A GOP spokesperson declined to confirm whether Simon was being physically denied entry but issued this statement: “The House is duly organized, and Secretary Simon has no reason to be in the House Chamber. Secretary Simon concluded his duty as ceremonial presiding officer when he vacated the rostrum.”
Earlier: Day 2 of House boycott: Brief session
Simon. Secretary of state of state snce 2015. Earlier a four-term member House from St. Paul. A Democrat.