With the DFL taking majorities in the Minnesota State House and Senate earlier this month, House Speaker-elect Paul Thissen and Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk are announcing their committee structure and new chairpersons. Last week the following roster of chairs was announced. I’ve highlighted the northern Minnesota legislators who have earned these influential positions.
See the complete list below the jump
SENATE CHAIRS
Rules and Admin: Sen. Tom Bakk (majority leader)
*Subcommittee on Elections: Sen. Katie Sieben
Capital Investment: Sen. LeRoy Stumpf
Taxes: Sen. Rod Skoe
*Tax Reform Division: Sen. Ann Rest
Finance: Sen. Dick Cohen
*E-12 Division: Sen. Wiger
*Environment, Economic Development & Ag Division: Sen. David Tomassoni
*Health and Human Services Division: Sen. Tony Lourey
*Higher Ed and Workforce Development: Sen. Terri Bonoff
*State Departments and Veterans Division: Sen. Tom Saxhaug
*Transportation and Public Safety: Sen. Scott Dibble
Commerce: Sen. Jim Metzen
Education: Sen. Patricia Torres-Ray
Environment and Energy: Sen. John Marty
Health, Human Services and Housing: Sen. Sheran
Jobs, Ag, Rural Development: Sen. Dan Sparks
Judiciary: Sen. Latz
State and Local Government: Sen. Sandy Pappas
HOUSE CHAIRS
Ways and Means: Rep. Lyndon Carlson
Taxes: Rep. Ann Lenczewski
Property Tax Division: Rep Jim Davnie
Higher Education Finance and Policy: Rep. Gene Pelowski
Education Finance: Rep. Paul Marquart
Education Policy: Rep. Carlos Mariani
Health and Human Services Finance: Rep. Tom Huntley
Health and Human Services Policy: Rep. Tina Liebling
Capital Investment: Rep. Alice Hausman
Environment, Natural Resources, and Ag Finance: Rep. Jean Wagenius
Environment and Natural Resources Policy: Rep. David Dill
Ag Policy: Rep. Jeanne Poppe
Energy Policy: Rep. Melissa Hortman
Transportation Finance: Rep. Frank Hornstein
Transportation Policy: Rep. Ron Erhardt
Judiciary Finance and Policy: Rep. Debra Hilstrom
Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy: Rep. Joe Atkins
Jobs and Economic Development Finance and Policy: Rep. Tim Mahoney
Labor, Workplace, and Regulated Industries: Rep. Sheldon Johnson
State Government Finance and Veterans Affairs: Rep. Mary Murphy
Legacy State: Rep. Phyllis Kahn
Housing Finance and Policy: Rep. Karen Clark
Government Operations: Rep. Michael Nelson
Elections: Rep. Steve Simon
Public Safety Finance and Policy: Rep. Michael Paymar
Early Childhood and Youth Development Policy: Rep. Joe Mullery
Civil Law: State Rep. John Lesch
Rules and Legislative Administration: Rep. Erin Murphy
As you can see, northern Minnesota’s Senate seniority (and having an Iron Ranger as Leader) has led to choicer spots on that side of the building. But a chairmanship is a blessing and a curse. You get more influence in one area, but also have to dedicate much more time to committee work than a whole-scale legislative agenda. It will be interesting to see who among the new DFL caucuses emerges as rising stars and who hovers on the back benches.