Stop the political vengeance games | News, Sports, Jobs

Last year the Republicans in control of the Minnesota Senate found a way to punish Gov. Tim Walz for continuing to exercise emergency powers in the fight against COVID-19. During the monthly special sessions that the governor had to call to extend the emergency powers, the Republicans started picking off the commissioners Walz had appointed, and which the Senate had taken its time on approving. After a couple of years on the job, the commissioners fell victim to the Republican wish for vengeance.

Now, even with the emergency powers gone, Republicans are making threats against more commissioners. Republican Sen. Jim Abeler of Anoka said at a rally against mask and vaccine mandates, that he would like the Senate to oust Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm at an upcoming special session scheduled to approve special pay bonuses for essential pandemic workers. It “seems the only language the governor understands is the removal of another commissioner,” Abeler said.

Walz told Minnesota Public Radio News that he would consider calling off the session, if Republicans pursue the threat.

We wish these political games would stop. If the Senate Republicans learned to speak with something other than threats, they might find the governor is more than willing to listen to them.