Photocopied transcripts of the opening floor sessions of the 1971 Minnesota State Senate (January 5-8, 12-14). Thirty-four Conservatives and thirty-three Liberals were elected to serve that year. Richard F. Palmer, Duluth, one of the thirty-four Conservatives, had been accused of unfair campaign practices and his vote during these early organizational debates was called into question. The Liberals argued that he should be denied his seat. The Conservatives contended that no member with a Senate certificate could be forced to step aside. Both parties called upon the Minnesota State Constitution and past precedent to justify their positions. Palmer's seat was crucial because it would determine control of the Senate. After much debate, the Liberals won following a tie-breaking vote cast by President of the Senate Rudy Perpich and the Liberal Caucus's refusal to count Palmer's vote. Palmer was forced to relinquish his seat, after which the Conservative Caucus, led by Senator Stanley W. Holmquist, objected to the President of the Senate's vote. The Conservatives made several failed appeals, but the Liberal Caucus, led by Senator Nicholas Coleman, took control of the Senate and elected Patrick E. Flahaven as Senate Secretary. At that point, the Conservative Caucus declared the need for a judicial determination on the issues raised by both the President's tie-breaking vote and his refusal to count Palmer's vote. They walked out of the Senate and left the Liberals without a quorum. For the next five days the Conservatives remained absent and refused to recognize the Liberals' control. The Conservative Caucus brought their case to the Minnesota Supreme Court, which ruled that Palmer be allowed to take the oath and that his certificate to be accepted. On the seventh day of the Senate session, January 14, the full Senate once again took the floor, with the Conservatives gaining control of all leadership positions, including Secretary of the Senate.
