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Things at the Capitol have started to revert to normal as the fourth week of the legislative session comes to a close. On Monday, the Senate swore in its newest member, Sen. Doran Clark (DFL-Minneapolis), bringing the body back to a 34-33 DFL majority. The new DFL majority terminated the power-sharing agreement the body was operating under, so they will have full control of committees going forward.
In the House, the nearly month-long stalemate has come to a close. House leadership agreed on how to organize the body, with Rep. Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Springs) serving as Speaker of the House for the next two years.
The agreement allows Republicans to chair committees while they have a 67-66 majority, until the special election to fill the seat in 40B on March 11. If the DFL wins the seat, the House will be tied 67-67 and committees will be run by co-chairs from each party. Until then, Republicans will have a one-seat majority on committees.
Another provision of the agreement creates the House Fraud and Agency Oversight Committee to investigate fraud in state government programs. Last, the agreement requires Republicans to seat Rep. Brad Tabke (DFL-Shakopee), whose election was filled with uncertainty when it was discovered that 20 votes had been thrown out. With the agreement in place, DFL members returned to the Capitol Thursday for the first time this session, ending their three-week boycott. Work will now begin on putting together a new two-year state budget.
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