May 23, 2009: Legislative Report #66

Illegal Voting

May 18, 2009 was the last day of Minnesota House session. The Minnesota constitution *(Article 4 Section 21) prohibits any bills passed on the last day of session. On May 18, 2009 our elected leaders illegally voted on and passed several bills, sending them to the Governor for his signature. Our Governor then passed? The bills into law including HF 2251, or did he. Is legislation passed in violation of our constitution legal or enforceable?

Additionally our Constitution prohibits a bill containing **(Article 4 Section 17) more than one subject. One example is House File 2251, also passed on the last day of session. Shown below is the ***original bill title and then the ****final title. Several additions to the bill unrelated to “one subject” as required by our Constitution are included in this legislation.

The practice of grouping law and passing bills the last day of session is unconstitutional and must stop now. I pledge to do my part and protect our Constitution at the legislature. If the elected leaders at the capitol refuse to comply with our supreme law, we have no law. 

Other bills passed the last day of session
HF 2323-vetoed

HF 1988-signed

HF 1237-signed

*PASSAGE OF BILLS ON LAST DAY OF SESSION PROHIBITED. No bill shall be passed by either house upon the day prescribed for adjournment. This section shall not preclude the enrollment of a bill or its transmittal from one house to the other or to the executive for his signature.

**LAWS TO EMBRACE ONLY ONE SUBJECT. No law shall embrace more than one subject, which shall be expressed in its title.

*** As introduced April 1, 2009
1.1A bill for an act
1.2relating to state government finance; providing federal stimulus oversight
1.3funding for certain state agencies; appropriating money.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA

**** Signed by the Governor May 21, 2009, 4:53 p.m.

An act: relating to government finance; providing federal stimulus oversight funding for certain state agencies; conforming Minnesota law to the requirements necessary to receive federal stimulus money for medical assistance; modifying
Hennepin County's 2009 nonfederal share of medical assistance costs to comply with federal requirements to receive enhanced FMAP; authorizing eligibility for sparsity revenue for the Deer River School District; adjusting higher education limits on tuition increases; modifying funding for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities; appropriating money; amending Laws 2009, chapter 95, article 1, sections 1; 4; 5, subdivision 4.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA