Capitol View: December 22, 2010 Archive

MN Senate releases committee membership

Posted at 12:45 PM on December 22, 2010 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature

Senate Republicans, who will take control of that body on January 4th, have released the list of members for each committee.

Republicans released the list of committee chairs earlier this month. What is new is who will be the lead members from the DFL. Most of the DFL leads chaired the committees up until they lost control of the Legisalture.

The only exception is DFL Sen. Ann Rest, who won't be a lead on any committee. (Update: I'm told Rest got her first three picks. She also served on the panel that organized the DFL members. That panel included Minority Leader Tom Bakk, Dick Cohen and Linda Scheid).

Here's the list.

2011-12 Senate Committee Membership

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MN Senate GOP to cash in before start of session

Posted at 3:12 PM on December 22, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature

Republicans in the Minnesota Senate are set to cash in on their new majority. The caucus has scheduled a fundraiser for January 3rd at Midland Hills Country Club.

Donors are being asked to give up to $7,500 to attend the fundraiser. It is scheduled to be held one day before the 2011 legislative session starts. State campaign finance laws forbid Senate and House caucus fundraisers from being held during the legislative session. The law also forbids lawmakers from accepting contributions from lobbyists during session.

It's standard practice for all of the legislative caucuses to hold fundraisers on the eve of the legislative session. I suspect that there will be more lobbyists attending the Senate GOP event since they'll take control of the Senate for the first time in thirty years.

Here's the invite:

The honor of your presence is requested to join Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, and the Senate Republican Caucus for their First Annual Leadership Reception.

This will be your last opportunity to meet with Senate Republican Leadership and all Senators prior to the 2011 Legislative Session, and to discuss the many important issues at hand.
Please join your Republican Friends on:

Monday, January 3, 2011
Midland Hills Country Club
2001 Fulham Street
Roseville, MN 55113

5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Leadership & Committee Reception

Leadership Patron: $7,500
Three tickets to private reception with Senate Leadership and Committee Chairs with patron
recognition and five tickets to the General Reception

Committee Patron: $5,000
Two tickets to private reception with Senate Leadership and Committee Chairs with patron
recognition and five tickets to the General Reception

6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
General Reception with all Senators
$250 per person

Meanwhile....

Senate Republicans also elected Chris Gerlach as Majority Caucus Whip for the 2011-12 Legislative Session Wednesday.

The role of the whip is to communicate information to other members of a party caucus during a floor debate and prior to a vote.