Senate GOP fails to neuter Mitchell as deciding vote

ST.PAUL, Minn. – State Senate Republicans, eager to end the one-vote Democratic majority, went after Senator Nicole Mitchell to neuter her pivotal Democratic vote — and failed. The GOP was seeking to capitalize on Mitchell’s arrest 1-1/2 weeks ago for burgling a relative’s house in Detroit Lakes. Carla Nelson, R-Rochester, motioned to prohibit Mitchell from voting until an ethics probe is complete. Senate President Bobby Joe Champion, D-Minneapolis, ruled Nelson’s motion not germane. A vote to appeal Champion’s ruling failed 34-33 — along strict party lines. Mitchell cast the decisive vote. Senator Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa, then motioned to prohibit recording Mitchell’s votes. That too failed 33-32 with Mitchell again breaking the tie.

Drama on Senate floor

The drama marked Mitchell’s first day back in the Senate after Mitchell’s arrest. During her post-arrest absence last week, there were no floor votes. On her first day back, on Monday, Mitchell did not address news reporters nor did she speak on the floor,

GOP’s failed persistence

The session, however, centered on Mitchell’s  presence. When the Senate finally got back to legislating, the Republicans wouldn’t quite let go. In a vote on the major state jobs bill, Minority Leader Mark Johnson, R-Grand Forks,  insisted that a letter of dissent be entered into the record to protest Mitchell’s vote. The jobs bill passed 33-32 along the same party lines.

Earlier: In  burglary’s wake, Democrats shun Senator Mitchell