Buesgens resigns as State Government Finance Chair

Posted at 7:58 PM on December 16, 2010 by Tom Scheck (4 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature

GOP Rep. Mark Buesgens of Jordan sent an e-mail to Republicans in control of the Minnesota House saying he's resigning his position as State Government Finance Chair.

In the e-mail to incoming GOP House Speaker Kurt Zellers and incoming House Majority Leader Matt Dean, Buesgens wrote that other Republican caucus members were upset that Buesgens was picked to chair the committee.

I hereby submit my resignation from the chairmanship of State Government Finance. You and Matt need to get off to the best possible start with the caucus and have done a very good job thus far. However, it appears that naming me as a chair has created some problems that you don't need and I don't want. For me to continue on with the knowledge that there are colleagues with questions, concerns and outright hostility with this appointment is unacceptable. The best possible course of action to mend fences is for me to quickly step aside and I not only accept that, I welcome that.

Kurt, you know well that I truly live by the expression that one does not need to be a captain in order to lead. In fact, if the only way one can get folks to follow is by securing a captainship, well, that person isn't a leader at all! What I'm saying is that I do not need a title to be of some value in our caucus and I will not hold a title if there are questions, doubts or hard feelings by doing so.

Finally, I want to emphatically stress that I harbor no ill will or hard feelings. I seek only what is best for you, Matt and the entire caucus we attempt to lead our beloved state through these terribly trying times.

Buesgens is the second Republican to resign the position as chair and House Republicans haven't even gaveled in a meeting yet. They took control of the House after the November election and officially take control of the House in January.

Zellers appointed Buesgens to the post earlier this month after GOP Rep. Tom Hackbarth officially resigned his position as Chair of the House House Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Committee. St. Paul Police confiscated Hackbarth's gun in November after he was seen carrying the weapon in a Planned Parenthood parking lot in St. Paul. No charges were filed.

Zellers put GOP Rep. Denny McNamara in Hackbarth's post and Buesgens in the role of Chair of the State Government Finance Committee.

Buesgens was in the news earlier year after he pleaded guilty to drunken driving. He was sentenced to serve 60 hours of community service.

Kevin Watterson, a spokesman for the House Republican Caucus, was unaware of Buesgens e-mail when he was first contacted about it earlier today. He later sent a note saying "Not yet" when asked about Buesgens. He didn't return a follow up question as to whether Zellers was asking Buesgens to reconsider his resignation.

Zellers did not return a call seeking comment.

Comments (4)

That's a shame. Mark Buesgens is one of the best legislators in this state. He aught to chair a committee at the very least.

Posted by Dan | December 16, 2010 9:32 PM

Pretty flawed judgment by the GOP to put Buesgens in as a Chairman of anything. Clearly the guy has issues that need to be worked out. For the good of the state and his family, Buesgens should resign from the legislature.

Posted by Jerry J. | December 17, 2010 7:52 AM

The last time Buesgens made the news, he was $250,000 under water on his mortgage, and only escaped foreclosure by an apparent back room deal. That's more than the value of the average Minnesota home. How can somebody so financially irresponsible even be a state legislator, much less the Chair of the Finance Committee?

Posted by Ralph Crammedin | December 17, 2010 7:57 AM

Mark Olson, check.

Tom Emmer, check.

That leaves Buesgens as the House's last remaining rageaholic time-waster. Unfortunately, another one or two probably got elected in the freshman class last month. Ah well...

Posted by Chris | December 17, 2010 1:41 PM

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