GOP leaders trim committees

Posted at 4:57 PM on November 16, 2010 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: MN Legislature

The new Republican leaders in the Minnesota House and Senate say they plan to make state government more user friendly by reducing the number of legislative committees.

House Speaker-designate Kurt Zellers and incoming Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch unveiled a plan today that reduces House committees from 40 to 24, and Senate committees from 25 to 16. They estimated the combined savings at about $800,000. During a State Capitol news conference, Zellers said government reforms begin with the Legislature itself.

"This is not something we're going to jump up and down and pat ourselves on the back about," Zellers said. "This is what voters expected of us."

Koch said she thinks the changes will help citizens navigate the process. She also said it will free up time for legislators.

"When I think about the committees that I served on for the last four years, my schedule was full, and it allowed for very little time with my constituents, Koch said. "I think this is going to be very useful, particularly with some of our new members. They're going to have more time."

Koch and Zellers did not say which GOP legislators will chair the new committees. They plan to make those announcements Wednesday.

DFL House Minority Leader Paul Thissen said he fears Republicans will use their new structure to reward anonymous corporations that helped them win seats in the election.

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