ST. PAUL, Minn. – Short-fused State Representative Duane Quom, R-Byron, disrupted a House committee hearing with an outburst at the Democratic committee chair. Several committee members likened the outburst to a childish temper tantrum. What set Quom off? A request by the committee chair to clarify a question he was repeating to a witness. The question was worded confusingly and its relevancy was unclear. Confusingly Quom stumbled into the question. again. The committee chair, Mike Freiberg, D-Golden Valley, again interrupted Quom to clarify. Quom didn’t. Freibeg then tried to move on from Quom’s question. Quom went ballistic and screamed: “Haul me out of the committee if you’re not going to allow us to actually debate the darn bill! I will not allow you to ignore valid questions!” Freiberg pounded his gavel to force order. All this is on video.
Quom temper
Quom has a reputation for disruptive behavior. In 2018 he grabbed a microphone from another legislator and wouldn’t let go. Finally he threw the device at her. Quom makes his living as an engineer. He is a former member of the Byron School Board.
Quom. first elected to the Minnesota House in 2010. Age: 68.