PRINSBURG, Minn. – With no discussion, no debate, the Prinsburg Town Board voted unanimously to shelve a proposal that would have paid people to sue abortion providers and patients — and also to collect a $10,00 reward. The vote came after a four-minute presentation by Mayor Roger Ahrenhol. Without a mention of arguments for against citizen freedom on abortion, Ahrenholz read from a prepared statement that the state’s attorney general, Keith Ellison, had threatened to sue the town for a constitutional violation pf individual rights if the ordinance were passed. The mayor also noted that the town’s legal counsel could find case law or even a legal theory to rebut the attorney general’s position. A legal battle could bankrupt the town, the mayor said. When Ahrenholz was done, Voard members Mitch Swart and Greg Bonnema made a parliamentary move to kill he proposal. The vote came with no discussion or comment – almost as if pre-arranged, although state open meeting law precludes elected officials from discussing agenda items outside of public meetings. The vote was 3-0 with Board members Dalen Folkerts, Dan Negen and Mitch Swart saying yea. The mayor did not need to vote because there weas no tie to break.

Earlier: Ellison seeks to nip abortion subterfuge early