• members from Greater allow for I better representation because both parties end up working toward common goals. "We Freshmen legislators proud of successes, bipartisanship represent a lot ofthe same interests." The marching orders from voters also in­ cluded getting legislation passed, which is why Rep. (R-Dellwood) thinks Minne­ By BRETT MARTIN sotans weren't upset bythe special session. ith theirfirst session nowundertheir belts, the 26 new "The average person doesn't care if we get done in June or July. They just want it done. House members can lookback upon a highlycharged Theywould rather see it get done correctlythan year ofmajor legislation. They weighed in on awidely have shoddy work done at the last minute." praised bonding lawand the various funding laws for Still, 14 newDFL members bandedtogether the 2006-07 biennium. to tryandsave the state moneyby signing onto a bill (HFll02), sponsored by freshman Rep. Like college freshmen who arrive on campus and have to figure Larry Hosch (DFL-St. Joseph), which would out room numbers and processes while concentrating on their prohibit per diem expenses for legislators for studies, freshmen House members came to the Capitol to work a special session that is called within 60 days on legislation while learning firsthand how the political process ofregular session's adjournment. The bill did not receive a committee hearing. works.

Freshmen members introduced 331 new that," added Rep. Frank bills this session, representing their districts' Moe (DFL-Bemidji). "I've grown so much more protective of interests as well as reflecting their diverse Hortman said new the district that Irepresent. The paternal­ backgrounds, experiences and interests. members are willing to cross partylines since the ism Ifeel for my community is greater Carrying out marching orders major political parties than at any time in my life." With the House divided by a mere two are declining and more Rep. Frank Moe votes, each member played a crucial role in interest is given to smaller, DFl-Bemidji passing or rejecting legislation this session. bipartisan coalitions and "I feel I have had a chance to contribute," caucuses, such as the ur­ said Rep. Mike Charron (R-Woodbury). ban and rural caucuses. "Everybody's a player when it's a The learning curve 68-66 split." One of the most difficult chal­ Because freshmen members car­ "The day Itook the oath ofoffice, my wife, lenges newmembers face is learning ried such influence, they made a our children and my parents were there to the inner workings of state govern­ conscious effort to be bipartisan. see it happen. The look ofpride my parents ment. "The whole freshman class is had in their eyes that day is something Iwill "I think it went well for learning focused on the issues, not politics," howthe system works. I have a good said Rep. (DFL­ remember the rest ofmy life." foundation," said Rep. Tom Emmer Brooklyn Park). "Those marching Rep. Pat Garofalo (R-Delano), although he notes that orders came from the voters." R-Farmington the learning process is not yet over. "It was an effective message, and "I can't believe you can be a full- I think this class has delivered on fledged, fully-educated member within two years." . Moe said reaching Members fortunate enough to return to "I'm having the time ofmy life. The chal­ across the aisle helped the House after their first term have a better lenges are invigorating. I'm really soaking him get his bills heard. understanding ofthe process, which can help it up with asense ofdelight." "I had a willingness to them advance their ideas, he said. Rep. Mike Charron work with Republicans, Moe said he too had a lot to learn. R-Woodbury and they responded in "Frankly, I didn't know what to expect," kind," he said, pointing he said. «Back in February, I felt like it was out that the bipartisan the second quarter and 1'd just gotten the alliances he's formed with rules."

44 Session Weekly July 22, 2005 delight." "The average person doesn't care if we get He especially enjoys House veterans are I

done in June or July. They would rather the camaraderie ofHouse As the newest House members see it get done correctly than have shoddy members. "The kind of their own this session, they faced scru characters here - you only bytheir constituents, but also b work done at the last minute." can't make this stuff up," legislators. Rep. Matt Dean he said. "You can have a The senior members liked w R-Dellwood "This state is fortunate to have such great good, spirited debate and • members from Greater Minnesota allow for public servants," said Rep. Mike Jaros (D better representation because both parties then walk off, pat each Duluth), now serving his 15th nonconse I end up working toward common goals. "We other on the back and say, tive term. "A lot of them have had previous Freshmen legislators proud of successes, bipartisanship represent a lot ofthe same interests." 'You got me on this one, public service experience and have worked The marching orders from voters also in­ He also learned the ugly side of political but watch out on the next one.'" in different professions. I think we need that debates and found it's sometimes better to The freshmen typically met once a month experience." cluded gettinglegislation passed, which is why Jaros said that experience and the level of Rep. Matt Dean (R-Dellwood) thinks Minne­ not say anything than to be drawn into an during session to get to know each other bet­ knowledge about issues that the freshmen argument. ter, and some ofthem are planning a summer class broughttothe House distinguished them By BRETT MARTIN sotans weren't upset by the special session. "Earlyin the session, I tookthe bait and got trip together to Coors Field in Denver to see a from previous classes. ith theirfirst session now undertheir belts, the 26 new "The average person doesn't care if we get done in June or July. They just want it done. into partisanbickering. I wish I wouldn't have Colorado Rockies baseball game. Rep. Ron Abrams (R-Minnetonka), now in his 17th year of service, commended the Class of House members can lookback upon a highly charged Theywould rather see it get done correctlythan done that," Moe said. Emmerhadthe honor offilling in as House A coach and an educator, he found himself 2005 for bringing new ideas and perspectives year ofmajor legislation. They weighed in on awidely have shoddy work done at the last minute." speaker during several floor sessions; a duty to the Legislature. getting a firsthand lesson in government. praised bonding lawand thevarious funding laws for Still, 14 new DFL members bandedtogether he performed like a seasoned leader. "There are a number of outstanding fresh­ to tryand save the state moneybysigning onto "These past five months men here on both sides of the aisle," he said. the 2006-07 biennium. a bill (HFll02), sponsored by freshman Rep. have been the greatest "This is one of the strongest classes I've seen "The whole freshman class is focused on in a long time. They put aside partisan politics Like college freshmen who arrive on campus and have to figure Larry Hosch (DFL-St. Joseph), which would learning experience of my life," Moe said. "You the issues, not politics. Those marching to a large extent." out room numbers and processes while concentrating on their prohibit per diem expenses for legislators for House MinorityLeader MattEntenza (DFL-St. learn about people, public studies, freshmen House members came to the Capitol to work a special session that is called within 60 days orders came from the voters." Paul), now in his sixth term, agrees. ofregular session's adjournment. The bill did policy and yourself." Rep. Melissa Hortman "This new group ofRepublicans and Demo­ I~arning on legislation while firsthand how the political process not receive a committee hearing. One concept that new DFl-Brooklyn Park crats had a big impact on the House," he said. works. members seemed to have "They are particularly articulate and had grasped quickly is making helped move forward significant legislation. I believe we passed agreat bonding bill because Freshmen members introduced 331 new that," added Rep. Frank their voices heard. ofthe new members." bills this session, representing their districts' Moe (DFL-Bemidji). "I've grown so much more protective of Hortmanwas one offive House Speaker (R-Kenyon), interests as well as reflecting their diverse Hortman said new the district that Irepresent. The paternal­ members who introduced bills to fund the "That is amazing. It's an incredible experi­ first elected in 1978, was impressed that many backgrounds, experiences and interests. members are willing to Northstar commuter rail corridor project, ence," Emmer said. "It is not only an unbeliev­ freshmen jumped right into the process. cross partylines since the ism Ifeel for my community is greater which ended up in the bonding law. able experience, it's trulyhumbling. It can be "They're certainly a good group that got than at any time in my life." ''I'm thrilled that the Minnesota Northstar involved in legislation right away. The message Carrying out marching orders major politic"al parties an intimidating place to be." that their citizens gave them was to cooperate Rep. Frank Moe With the House divided by a mere two are declining and more project got passed. I feel directly responsible Representing constituents in the State and get the job done. Some have followed DFl-Bemidji votes, each member played a crucial role in interestis given to smaller, for that," Hortman said. "We've made a lot Capitol gives members such as Moe a feeling through in that direction; some have not." passing or rejecting legislation this session. bipartisan coalitions and more progress than theydidlastyear, and I'm ofpride for his district. Many new members said they made a "I feel I have had a chance to contribute," caucuses, such as the ur­ proud ofthat." "What has happened more in this session conscious effort to be nonpartisan, and Rep. Irv Anderson (DFL-Int'l Falls), who has been said Rep. Mike Charron (R-Woodbury). ban and rural caucuses. Indeed, Hortman and fellow freshman Rep. is that I've grown so much more protective of The learning curve serving nonconsecutively since 1964, observed "Everybody's a player when it's a Denise Dittrich (DFL-Champlin) worked the district that I represent," Moe said. "The that to be true. "They are more bipartisan in 68-66 split." One of the most difficult chal­ hard for the project, which helped them win paternalism I feel for my communityis greater their approach." Because freshmen members car­ "The day Itook the oath ofoffice, my wife, lenges newmembers face is learning their seats since their pre­ the inner workings ofstate govern­ (0. MARTIN} ried such influence, they made a our children and my parents were there to decessors opposed the rail "I most enjoyed those moments when we conscious effort to be bipartisan. see it happen. The look ofpride my parents ment. system. "The whole freshman class is "I think it went well for learning forged coalitions across geographic and hadin their eyes that day is something Iwill howthe system works. I have a good Reaping rewards focused on the issues, not politics," political divides and worked together on First-term members said Rep. Melissa Hortman (DFL­ remember the rest ofmy life." foundation," said Rep. Tom Emmer Hortman worked in solutions to issues big and small." Rep. Pat Garofalo Rep. Mike Charron Rep. Brooklyn Park). "Those marching (R-Delano), although he notes that Washington, D.C., for for­ Rep. Diane Loeffler R-Farmington Rep. Lloyd Cybart Rep. Diane Loeffler orders came from the voters." the learning process is not yet over. mer Sen. Al Gore and Sen. DFL-Mpls "I can't believe you can be a full- Rep. Matt Dean Rep. Frank Moe "It was an effective message, and John Kerry, so she had a Rep. Denise Dittrich Rep. I think this class has delivered on fledged, fully-educated member good understanding ofthe Rep. Tom Emmer Rep. Neil W. Peterson within two years." . government process, but Rep. Patti Fritz Rep. Sandra Peterson Moe said reaching Members fortunate enough to return to working for senators didn't prepare her for than at any time in my life." Rep. Pat Garofalo Rep. Jeanne Poppe "I'm having the time ofmy life. The chal­ the House after their first term have a better the excitement of serving in the Minnesota Rep. Paul Gazelka Rep. Maria Ruud across the aisle helped If this year is any indication, the new Rep. Rep. Brita Sailer lenges are invigorating. I'm really soaking him get his bills heard. understanding ofthe process, which can help House. members will provide plenty of excitement Rep. Rep. Bev Scalze it up with asense ofdelight." "I had a willingness to them advance their ideas, he said. "It was 10 times as wonderful as I thought and ideas during the second halfoftheir first Rep. Melissa Hortman Rep. Steve Simon work with Republicans, Moe said he too had a lot to learn. 't would be," she said. terms. They enjoy serving the state, which Rep. Larry Hosch Rep. Andy Welti Rep. Mike Charron Rep. R-Woodbury and they responded in "Frankly, I didn't know what to expect," "It's probably not the right thing to call it Dean said makes this class special. kind," he said, pointing he said. "Back in February, I felt like it was fun, but I'm having the time of my life. The "We thought servility was still cool," Dean out that the bipartisan the second quarter and I'd just gotten the challenges are invigorating," agreed Char­ said. eL alliances he's formed with rules." ron. ''I'm really soaking it up with a sense of

July 22, 2005 Session Weekly 45 44 Session Weekly July 22, 2005