Entenza says his experience as a criminal prosecutor should help the DFL make its case for strengthening community security and helping local police andfire departments. "We As House Minority Leader, Entenza hopes to draw public thinkit's a tremendous mistake that the fund­ attention to DFL caucus goals, priorities ing for terrorism prevention has been held up for seven months;' he said. "One of our first priorities will be to get that money out to law By JEFF JONES enforcement." ep. (DFL-St. Paul) Assistant MinorityLeader Rep. Nora Slawik says he's never had much luck (DFL-Maplewood) says Entenza is especially staying outofsight. "Mylife's experience is good at building relationships and calls him when you're 6-foot-4, it's not worth pretending "bold, encouraging, and visionary." you can hide. People can always findyou, so you'd "I really think he is just what (the DFL bet~er get up and let them knowwhatyou stand party) needs right now. He does a lot ofthings for. very well," Slawik said. As the new minority leader in the House, New House Majority Leader Erik Paulsen Entenza will have plenty ofopportunityto do (R-Eden Prairie) was elected along with just that. With the smallest DFL caucus since Entenza in 1994. He and Entenza roomed to­ 1969, Entenza and the rest of the DFL House gether during their freshman orientation ses­ leadership will be trying harder than ever to sion. "It never entered mymind;'Paulsen said, take their message straight to the public. thatboth ofthemwould wind up leading their "The job is first and foremost to articulate respective caucuses five terms later. the vision of the kind of we want Paulsen says Entenza will be a good leader. to have," Entenza said. He has already spoken "He is an unabashed liberal, as strong in his out several times, within the first few weeks of convictions as I am in my convictions," Paulsen the session, against Republican plans for re­ said. "We get along great." solving the projected budget shortfalls. House Speaker (R-Kenyon) "The best solution to the budget crisis is to has been pleased to workwith Entenza, as well. make surewe evaluate everyprogram onits costs "Matthas been extremely honorable and cor­ and benefits;' Entenza said, "and to malze sure House Minority Leader Matt Entenza is serving in dial to deal with," Sviggum said. "We've been that those folks who are the most vulnerable ... his first term as leader for the House OFL caucus. able to talk through differences and under­ are treated the best in a very difficult time. He was first elected to the House in 1994. stand each other." "This is the worst budget crisis since the Entenza, a father of three boys, isn't wor­ Depression, so we're working to make the cuts Among the assistant leaders is MinorityWhip ried about the personal strain of a leadership we need to but (also) protect the quality of Margaret Anderson Kelliher (DFL-Mpls). With position. "At one point in my life we had a 1­ a small minority, she agrees that the most im­ life we have in Minnesota." year-old and newborn twins. The demands of The 52-member House DFL caucus elected portant work of the party will be to talze their being a legislator seem easy after you've juggled Entenza to be its partyleader last November, af­ case to voters. "Tall<:ing to the public is clearly three kids." ter the caucus lost 11 House seats in the 2002 where we'll be at;' she said. "Winning votes and Though he is used to being busy, the frantic elections. He replaces Rep. (DFL­ playing a floor strategy ofcatching people really schedule of meetings and speaking engage­ South St. Paul) who stepped down from the post isn't possible. I thinkthere will be a much more ments will keep him running even faster this public face to our caucus." after the election. Pugh had led the party in the session. ''I'm going to owe (my family) a long Kelliher calls Entenza "a bright and articu­ House since 1998. vacation this summer," he said. e.L At Entenza's side will be eight assistant mi­ late leader who really can bring people together norityleaders, also elected bythe caucus, who to see a vision and have focus." will playabig partinfloor debate and in bring­ Entenza, who was the minority whip last ing the DFL message to communities through­ session, maybe bestknown as the House spon­ out the state. They represent a deliberate sor ofMinnesota's "Do Not Call List" legisla­ diversity of gender, geography, and expertise. tion. An attorney with degrees from Oxford In addition to being equally divided by gen­ University and th~ , der, the eight are equally split between repre­ Entenza first took on telemarketers as an as­ senting districts in the Twin Cities sistant attorney general andprosecuted white­ metropolitan area and Greater Minnesota. "It's collar felonies in the Hennepin County important that the minority leader not be the Attorney's Office before being elected to the only voice," Entenza said. House in 1994.

January 17, 2003 Session Weekly II