The Speaker of the House is often called the second most powerful person in state government. Maybe not this year. When the DFL picked up 13 seats in November's election it left the margin in the House at 68 Republicans and 66 Democrats. Because there are 134 members of the House 68 votes are needed to pass a bill. That means if Speaker Steve Sviggum loses the support of just one Republican, he stands to lose the vote. Sviggum's new-found tentative position may play out in the first vote of the session--the vote to elect a speaker.

Patrick Sweeney has the story in the St. Paul Pioneer Press:

House Republican leaders were scrambling late Monday to try to ensure that the election today of House Speaker Steve Sviggum would not be derailed by threats from two members of the tiny Republican majority that they might abstain on the vote.

Rep. Bruce Anderson, R-Buffalo Township, said he probably would abstain rather than support Sviggum, R-Kenyon.

And Mark Olson, R-Big Lake, said he expected to vote for Sviggum, but that his backing was contingent on Sviggum and other Republicans agreeing to changes in House procedures.

"There are only 68 of us. Anyone can sink the boat we're in," said Republican Majority Leader Erik Paulsen, who was trying to persuade Anderson to support Sviggum.

Assuming Sviggum gets the votes to keep his job, things don't get much easier. If just one Republican chooses to peel away for any reason, it could bring down major parts of the budget.

This could be a recipe for yet another year of legislative gridlock. Or not. MPR's Laura McCallum reports this could be an opening to find new bipartisan cooperation:

In theory at least, that creates an opportunity for more involvement by Democrats in crafting legislation, especially on proposals that might alienate the most conservative Republicans. House Minority Leader Matt Entenza, DFL-St. Paul, says his 66 members don't want to be relegated to the sidelines.

"I think people are excited because the do-nothing Legislature has really been a problem for more than two years ... and now we finally have an ability to put some bipartisan coalitions together of moderate Republicans working together with Democrats."

House Speaker Steve Sviggum, R-Kenyon, agrees with Entenza that legislators in the middle of the political spectrum could pass major legislation.

"You may end up cutting off the very left and the very right, and those legislators, Democrat and Republican, that are more in the balance, may be supporting the bill as opposed to just Democrats or just Republicans. It make take different coalitions."

Sviggum may be one remembered as one of the most effective speakers in years in terms of taking control of the House and passing the Republican agenda. But this year he can't overwhelm the DFL with numbers, and that's a big challenge.

Speaking of bipartisan coalitions, it'll take one to pass a bonding bill. Unlike other legislation capital improvement bills require a supermajority--90 votes in the House, 41 in the Senate.

On the eve of the new session Gov. Tim Pawlenty proposed an $816 million dollar plan similar to the one he proposed last year. Among other things it includes money for higher education projects, for the Minnesota Zoo, for more prison beds, for reducing homelessness and for environmental conservation. It also supports the Northstar commuter rail line, connecting Minneapolis and its northwestern suburbs.

MPR's Michael Khoo notes the DFL response:

Lawmakers failed to agree on a bonding bill last year, which has cost many projects a year of construction time and created uncertainty around others. But Sen. Keith Langseth says DFL gains in last fall's elections have given them new leverage for passing a substantial bill and passing it early.

Matt Entenza of St. Paul leads the DFL House minority, which came within two seats of snatching the majority. He says the governor's plan is too slight and, in particular, underfunds higher education projects.

"Our goal is always going to be to move things forward. But Republicans have to learn there's got to be negotiations. And if there's a disappointment, it's not that the governor's proposing a bonding bill -- we're pleased that he is -- it's that it's essentially the same bill brought back with increases in construction costs, which is the price of delay," Entenza said.

You see, there is a new mood at the Capitol. They're not angry--just disappointed.

I'll be at the Capitol with Gary Eichten and Midday on Tuesday. Hope you can tune in on the radio or the Web. As always we'll be talking to the key players; the governor, committee chairs and legislative leaders.

Finally, sympathies to Sen. Dean Johnson, DFL-Willmar, on the loss of his father. Erlyn T. Johnson died Friday at a nursing home in Houston, Minn. He was 92.