MANKATO, Minn. -
The DFL has taken control of the Minnesota legislature after reclaiming both the House and the Senate.
Which means when the gavel drops for the next legislative session, for the first time in more than two decades, the Democrats will have control all of state government in Minnesota.
Senator Kathy Sheran (DFL) says, "This shift is absolutely communicating a lack of satisfaction on the part of the public."
Sheran says the two amendments on the ballot showed constituents the Republican Party's priorities, and they weren't priorities voters agreed with.
Sheran says, "And I think that is a very strong message from the public, if you are in leadership, they don't want you to use the leadership to advance a divisive agenda."
Republican Representative Tony Cornish agrees that the amendments played a role.
Rep. Cornish says, "We tried to load too much onto the ballot, the two constitutional amendments I think brought a lot of people out and a lot of money into the districts and statewide that probably wouldn't have been brought about otherwise."
Cornish says while the legislature will have a more liberal focus than he prefers, he thinks the change in powers will force both sides work together.
Cornish says, "Instead of stalemating and button heading and maybe we will get something done in the upcoming session."
Democratic control of the Legislature will have an effect issues like how the state faces the next projected budget shortfall, and we can expect more progressive tax polices coming out of the capital.
Sheran says, "We can't be assured that the public will see what the democrats do as successful, but they certainly have asked us and given us the opportunity."
And voters will have until the next election to decide if this is the direction they want to move in, or not.
Cornish says, "If we don't get the promises fulfilled that are made no and we just need four more years and it could go back again."
With the change in power, many state lawmakers were up at the capitol working on reorganizing committees, and choosing leadership for the upcoming session.
