• ning activities The leadership meets weekly to talk about I of Lakes Choirboys sang liThe legislation and discuss strategy. Paulsen said I ll I led Banner and IIGod Bless that too often legislators get an idea and in­ ay one marks start of legislative Republicans, DFL take different paths when establishing troduce a bill before they've thought it out. of State Mary Kiffmeyer leadership structure With a large caucus, the legislator can bring and led the it to the caucus meeting and bounce the idea I members around among his colleagues. By BRETT MARTIN adoption oftemporary rules. The rules were By MATT WETZEL possibility ofa great job and good health and Paulsen efore entering the House Chamber ultimately adopted 68-65. he DFL Caucus has slimmed down its a way to get to work," he said. believes the Jan. 4 for the traditionally ceremo­ One of Entenza,s amendments called for leadership ranks for the 2005 session, "We think that work and health care are main role of nial opening day ofsession, a common more balance in committee structures by al­ and House Minority Leader Matt En- crucial because that's one of the ongoing the leadership theme among members was one of compro­ lowing the majority caucus to have only one tenza (DFL-St. Paul) believes it will allow for problems that business has right now, keep­ is communi­ mise. That wish for goodwill lasted for little more member on each committee than the greater accountability. ing good employees and keeping costs under cation with more than an hour, when party-line votes re­ minoritycaucus. WhenRepublicans opposed, (R-Eden Prairie) countered that the Republi­ The caucus met in a one-day retreat in De­ control," he said. the caucus turned as members passed temporary rules. it was not adopted in a 67-67 vote, with Rep. cans have held more positions open in recent cember to organize andplanstrategy. Entenza Across the aisle, the Republicans have nine and the pub­ House Speaker Steve Sviggum (R-Kenyon) MarkOlson (R-Big Lake) crossing partylines. years, and currentnumbers indicate one more was elected minorityleader; and MargaretAn­ members on the "executive board," as House lic on the cau­ said he was disappointed in the partisanbick­ Olson also successfully offered an amendment party researcher in his caucus, but an equal dersonKelliher (DFL-Mpls) andRep. Anthony Majority Leader Erik Paulsen, (R-Eden Prai­ cus priorities, ering, but promised cooperation. that permanent rules be adopted by Feb. 15. number ofconstituent services personnel. Sertich (DFL-Chisholm) were elected minor­ rie), calls it. Each was appointed by House which this "We will overcome the rancor of the first The current committee structurehas a one­ Rep. Tom Rukavina (DFL-Virginia) also itywhips. Speaker Steve Sviggum (R-Kenyon) or elected year includes day," Sviggum said. "We will continue to or two-seat difference on most committees, tried to amend the temporary rules by per­ For thepast by the caucus in a meeting after the election. funding for Minority Leader education, outreach." although the House Ways and Means Com­ mitting members to take money from one two bienni­ Othermembers include MajorityWhip Marty Matt Entenza Although there were first day differences, mittee has a seven-seat difference. spending bill and moving it to another. ums, when the Seifert (R-Marshall) and six assistant major­ health care House MinorityLeader MattEntenza (DFL-St. Entenza,s second amendment, which failed "What this would do would be to basically partyhadfew­ ityleaders: Rep. Laura Brod (R-New Prague), and transportation. Paul) is also hopeful for cooperation in 2005. on a party-line vote, would have given each allow all of us to have a voice in the budget er members Rep. Bob Gunther (R-Fairmont), Rep. Jeff Internally, he said members can get a "We thoughtthatthe Republicans would heed party a number ofstaffproportionate to the ofthe state," he said. Under current rules t than today, it Johnson (R-Plymouth), Rep. Maxine Penas heads-up on what's going to happen on the the public's message to play fairly, and they got number of members. "We all deserve equal HouseWays andMeans Committee sets budg had one whip (R-Badger), Rep. Tim Wilkin (R-Eagan) and floor and what the agenda should be. "They busyby creating majorities on committees and treatment," he said, claiming there is a differ­ targets for individual finance committees. who doubled Rep. Kurt Zellers (R-Maple Grove). The party learnwhat's importantto members andwhat's taking a disproportionate share of the staff," ence of about ~O employees between parties, The amendment failed 68-66. as one ofeight has had a whip each ofthe last two sessions, important to the district, and being attentive Entenza said. "That had to be dealt with." not counting leadership staffand committee The votes on the temporary rules came assistant mi­ with seven and six assistant majority leaders, to individual members' needs." To do that, Entenza unsuccessfully of­ administrators. after members elected Sviggum speaker for nority lead­ respectively. fered two amendments to the resolution for House Majority Leader Erik Paulsen the fourth consecutive biennium, on a 67-64 ers. "I think it's good to bring ownership to vote over Entenza. Speaker of the House "We've more people," State ofthe State ate Steve Sviggum Five members initiallywithheld their votes, gone up and said Sviggum. Gov. Tim Pawlenty WI on the this year to deliver his annual State but two voted on their party candidate when down," Entenza said. Caucus members agreed "Obviouslyit's State address. given a second chance. that three members on the leadership team toughto reach Traditionally delivered at th Reps. Bruce Anderson (R-Buffalo Town­ adecision with seemed right for this session. Capitol, plans call for the speech h ship), Al Juhnke (DFL-Willmar) and Mary "Fewer people will mean a greater account­ 50, 60, 70, 80 lighting the governor's legislative vis Ellen Otremba (DFL-Long Prairie) passed on ability andmore responsibility," Entenza said. people. You to be given at 11 a.m. Jan. 18 at the Mayo their final vote. "We knowthatwe can rely on ourlead Demo­ have to have Clinic Superior Drive Support Center in Juhnke saidpartyleaders overlookthe west­ crats to carry the ball in a lot ofpolicy areas. a small execu­ Rochester. ern and southern areas ofMinnesota, which Theyall have goodbackgrounds. Rep. Kelliher tive board. We Medical tests and blood and tissue st­ is why he abstained. Otremba cited her views was our whip last year, and Rep. Sertich was a think having ing are performed at the center, w on abortion for not endorsing Entenza. leader before." a board of di­ setto expand this year with the help 0 tax Anderson reportedly refused to support The term whip comes from Britain's Par­ rectors that is breaks under the state's Job Opportunity Sviggum following a disagreement on sup­ liament, where the job ofthe whip is to keep representative Majority Leader Building Zones program. porting a Republican candidate last spring. members of his or her party informed and of the caucus Erik Paulsen IIBy taking the State of the State out He said Sviggum didn't do enoughto support counts the votes. It's similar to an assistant is good and brings ownership back to the the Capitol, I hope to encourage all Min­ former Rep. ArIon Lindner, who lost a Repub­ minority leader here. members ofthe caucus." nesotans to take a greater interest in t lican endorsing contest to Rep. Joyce Peppin Entenza sees the role of the leadership as Paulsen agreed, saying that the greater the work that wi II be done in St. Paul over t (R-Rogers). Sviggum previously supported getting positive legislation passed. In the DFL's caucus leadership, the more varied the opin­ coming months:' Pawlenty said. Lindner, but gave his backing to Peppinwhe rase, that means creating better prospects for ions. "We have a wide spectrum ofrural and she received the endorsement. ;innesotans to succeed. "They need good metro. It employs the breadth of the caucus. PHOTO BY TOM OLMSCHEID Acknowledging that the House has a lot t opportunities in education, health care and It leads to more effective decision-making," Kimberly Scalze, right, granddaughter of Rep. Bev Scalze, peers over the backof her grandmother's accomplish, Sviggum vowed in his acceptance transportation, so the people can have the he said. chair as members debate an amendment to the temporary rules Jan. 4 in the House Chamber. speech to include Democrats in decisions. Session Weekly January 7,2005 January 7,2005 Session Weekly.