Senate Adjourns Sine Die Without Action on Additional Gubernatorial Appointments

The Senate adjourned the special session sine die Wednesday, July 7, without acting upon two appointments scheduled for consideration: Sarah Strommen as Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources and Dean Compart as President of the Minnesota Board of Animal Health. A third appointment, Jennifer Ho as Commissioner of the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, was expected, but not scheduled for full Senate consideration Wednesday.

Senate Minority Leader Susan Kent and members of the DFL minority caucus called for the Senate's adjournment, expressing frustrations over the resignation of Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Commissioner Laura Bishop and the extended special session to consider other appointments . Bishop resigned her position prior to the Senate Environment Committee's informational hearing on her appointment. "I think the way that this issue of commissioners being brought up on an ad hoc basis because they get sideways with the majority party on an issue of policy is counter to the best wishes of the people of Minnesota," Kent said.

In response, Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka said, "Frankly, there was a number of reasons and a number of times that there were conversations with Commissioner Bishop about what she was doing and how she was doing it," he said. Gazelka cited Bishop's involvement in the taconite industry lawsuit and the agency's recent rules regulating the spreading of manure and the adoption of California vehicle emission standards as reasons for Senate Republican Caucus's concerns.

Senator Kent's motion to adjourn sine die was supported by the Senate on a 46-18 vote.