On Monday, the MN Senate wrapped up debate and passed a bill granting same sex couple the right to legally wed in the state of Minnesota. With a single "yes" vote from a brave Republican Senator, the bill passed and headed to Gov Dayton for signature.
Having lost the vote, several GOP Senators were understandably upset. However, that doesn't excuse the behavior of a group of GOP Senators on Tuesday.
Several of the bills supporters joined Gov Dayton early in the afternoon to prepare for the bill signing. Several additional supporters planned to join their colleagues and over 7,000 supporters on the Capital lawn for the historic bill signing, Tuesday afternoon at 5pm.
Being petty and childish seems to be a GOP trait, even at the state level, so it was only natural that a group of GOP Senators invoked rule 38.3 in the Senate late that afternoon. What's Rule 38.8?
38.3 When the Senate has been placed under call, a member may demand that the doors be closed and that no member be permitted to leave the Chamber until the matter or question, if any, under consideration at the time of the call is disposed of, or until the call is lifted by a majority of the whole Senate, or until the Senate adjourns.
With enough Democratic Senators already gone in preparation for the signing ceremony, the GOP invoked a rule to LOCK the Senate doors and prevent any member from leaving the chamber until they finished debate on the current bill (that wasn't going to go anywhere that afternoon anyway).
I don't even know where to begin. Scott Dibble, the marriage equality bill's main sponsor had a few words for the gang the next day, though I think he was FAR too nice. Then again, that's the classy guy that he is, unlike me. I'd have called them names that would potentially get me banned from this site. :-p