Minn. Republicans want fewer legislative panels

Published 8:11 am Tuesday, November 16, 2010

ST. PAUL — The new Republican majorities at the Minnesota Capitol are trying to slim down the legislative structure as they prepare to take power.

House Speaker-Designate Kurt Zellers and incoming Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch (kohk) hold a joint news conference Tuesday to unveil their plans for legislative committees.

They have promised to make the panels match up in both chambers while getting by with fewer of them. The House and Senate combined currently have more than 75 committees, subcommittees, divisions and subdivisions.

Earlier this month, voters overturned nearly four decades of Democratic rule in the Senate and unseated a Democratic House majority, too. Republicans will take over when state lawmakers are sworn in Jan. 3.