St. Paul, Minnesota — The Republican-led House Rules and Legislative Administration Committee approved the Permanent Rules of the House tonight, including a 24 hour pre-filing requirement for amendments to legislation. The 2013-14 House DFL majority first enacted this requirement over the loud, vocal concerns of House Republicans.
“After falsely claiming that this amendment would stifle the voices of Minnesotans and silence the minority, we’re pleased to see Republicans following in the House DFL’s footsteps to continue this common-sense, good government measure,” said House DFL Leader Paul Thissen. “The 24-hour rule ensures that amendments are well thought out, and gives Minnesotans time to see what’s happening in St. Paul and offer their input. This is especially critical for those in Greater Minnesota and those who don’t have paid lobbyists working for them in St. Paul.
“We hope this is the start of a trend and that Republicans will continue to follow in DFL footsteps to focus on priorities Minnesotans share like caring for our seniors, building a long-term transportation solution, and growing economic security, rather than tax breaks for big corporations.”
A floor vote on the Permanent Rules of the House could come as early as Thursday, February 12.