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Pity the poor state commissioners

Minnesota Senate Republicans returned this week to a practice they began last summer to punish Gov. Tim Walz for not ceding his emergency powers. When Walz would call a special session to extend the emergency declaration, Republicans, unable to overcome the DFL-controlled House’s votes, would select one of Walz’s state commissioners and vote to reject the appointment.

It’s a tactic made possible by the practice of governors and senators for decades. A governor appoints a commissioner, with the advice and consent of the Senate, but there is no time limit for senators to approve or deny the appointment. For the most part, commissioners serve out their terms without the approval of the Senate, which has rarely rejected such an appointment.

That changed last year. Two of Walz’s appointments were essentially fired by the Senate, a year and a half after their appointment. The reason was fairly obvious – to punish the governor for extending his emergency powers.

This week, after the special session to approve the budget had ended and all the bills signed, Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka extended the session to take up the issue of commissioners. As a result, MPCA Commissioner Laura Bishop offered her resignation before she could be fired, knowing Republicans would use her to punish the governor for his adoption of stricter auto emission rules and other policies they couldn’t block.

Republicans run the risk of facing the same tactics if and when they regain control of the governor’s office. In the meantime, they are driving away capable commissioner candidates, who should be wary of accepting a job that places a target on their backs.

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