Senate GOP looking for new leader

Posted at 1:39 PM on December 27, 2011 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: MN Legislature

Minnesota Senate Republicans are meeting today at a Roseville hotel to pick a new majority leader.

They need to replace Sen. Amy Koch, R-Buffalo, who resigned her leadership post amid allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a male staffer.

Most of the 37 Republican senators are attending the private meeting. Caucus staff would not specify who is attending or who isn't. There's been no sign of Koch, who is still a member of the caucus.
An afternoon vote is expected to follow an extensive discussion of the events leading up to Koch's resignation, including the private meeting where a handful of senators confronted her about the relationship.

Few senators confirmed their interest in the job before the meeting. But several lawmakers mentioned that Sen. David Hann, R-Eden Prairie, was a likely frontrunner.

The new GOP leader faces an immediate financial challenge. The Senate must soon cut $2 million from its own operating budget.

UPDATE

Other reporters caught a glimpse of Koch inside the meeting room. Staff appears to be going to great lengths to keep others from doing the same. I've personally seen 33 GOP senators at the hotel.

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