House Republicans say they will attend governor's special session but insist bills go through committee process

House Republican leaders said Friday they will attend any special session called by the governor in response to the shooting at Annunciation School and Church, but they urged that any bills be introduced and vetted through the regular committee process rather than fast-tracked.

A House Republican leader said the governor is "the only person in the state that can call a special session" and that "bills will be introduced. Determinations would be made" through the committee and floor process. The leader added, "House Republicans will be there. We will not deny quorum in the house."

Leader Harry Niska said the governor's push for a special session has been "a partisan political stunt from the beginning," arguing that the governor was seeking to fast-track legislation without releasing bill language or allowing committee hearings. "That's never been the way we govern in Minnesota," Niska said, calling for a bipartisan process to address…