2011 Minn. Legislature convenes

January 4, 2011

Photos by Jeffrey Thompson, Nikki Tundel

St. Paul, Minn. — The Minnesota Legislature convened Tuesday under full GOP control for the first time in 38 years.

St. Paul, MN, USA — Senate officers take the oath during the opening day of the session in St. Paul, Minn. Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

St. Paul, MN, USA — Senators take the oath of office during the first day of the 2011 legislative session in St. Paul, Minn. Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

St. Paul, MN, USA — Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch gives a speech toward the end of the Senate's opening day of session in St. Paul, Minn. Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

St. Paul, MN, USA — Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch encourages Sen. David Senjem, R-Rochester, as Sen. Geoff Michel, R-Edina, looks on during the first day of the session in St. Paul, Minn. Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

St. Paul, MN, USA — New Senate President Michelle Fischbach was elected during the opening day of the session in St. Paul, Minn. Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

St. Paul, MN, USA — Sen. Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, helps his 16-month-old grandson Benjamin Michael Bakk make an election during the opening day of the legislative session in St. Paul, Minn. Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

St. Paul, MN, USA — Sen. LeRoy Stumpf, DFL-Plummer, shows off his one-week-old granddaughter Genevieve Mickolichek to Senate President Michelle Fischbach, left, and Sen. Dan Hall, R-Burnsville, in St. Paul, Minn. Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

St. Paul, MN, USA — Ella Micholichek, 21 months, plays on the desk of her grandfather, Sen. LeRoy Stumpf, DFL-Plummer, as he holds his one-week-old granddaughter, Genevieve Mickolichek, in St. Paul, Minn. Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

St. Paul, MN, USA — The opening day of the 2011 legislative session was well documented in St. Paul, Minn. Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

St. Paul, MN, USA — Members of the Minnesota House are sworn in at the State Capitol on Jan. 4, 2011. (MPR Photo/Nikki Tundel) link to this photo

St. Paul, MN, USA — Rep. Kurt Zellers is sworn in as Speaker of the Minnesota House at the State Capitol on January 4, 2011. (MPR Photo/Nikki Tundel) link to this photo

St. Paul, Minn. — Katie Wardlow, the niece of Rep. Doug Wardlow, peeks onto the House floor at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul on January 4, 2011. (MPR Photo/Nikki Tundel) link to this photo

St. Paul, MN, USA — Elijah (right) and Brody Kriesel, sons of Rep. John Kriesel, R-Cottage Grove, accompanied their dad on the first day of the legislative session at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul on January 4, 2011. (MPR Photo/Nikki Tundel) link to this photo

St. Paul, MN, USA — Sen. Sandra Pappas, DFL-St. Paul, left, and Sen. Ellen Anderson, DFL-St. Paul, take the oath of office during the first day of the legislative session in St. Paul, Minn. Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

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2011 Minn. Legislature convenes

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