Audio Democrats confront new political geography (story audio) Photos John Hottinger Matt Entenza More from MPR GOP makes gains in state Legislature (11/06/2002) Buried bills will see light of day at Capitol (11/07/2002) Respond to this story Talk about this story in the MPR News Forum Submit a commentary Help us cover this story

Democrats confront new political geography
by Michael Khoo, Minnesota Public Radio
November 8, 2002

John Hottinger notes that he'll serve in the shadow of outgoing leader Roger Moe, who held the position for 22 years -- longer then anyone else in state history. (MPR Photo/Michael Khoo)

DFL lawmakers have two new leaders. Senate Democrats picked John Hottinger of St. Peter to replace outgoing Majority Leader Roger Moe. Moe stepped down from the Senate to pursue an unsuccessful bid for governor this year. And House DFLers have selected St. Paul Rep. Matt Entenza to serve as Minority Leader. Both caucuses saw a significant loss of seats in Tuesday's elections, but Democrats say they'll regroup to confront the new political geography.

St. Paul, Minn. — After four hours of closed-door discussions, Senate Democrats promoted Assistant Senate Majority Leader John Hottinger to the chamber's top leadership position. But the job responsibilities aren't what they might have been just a week ago.

When lawmakers convene next year, Hottinger will face a Republican governor in Tim Pawlenty, a Republican House with a fortified majority, and a slimmer majority in his own chamber. Beyond those new challenges, Hottinger notes that he'll serve in the shadow of outgoing leader Roger Moe, who held the position for 22 years -- longer then anyone else in state history.

	Matt Entenza

"We are going through a significant change. The Senate has lost a majority leader who's been here for many, many years. And so what every caucus member was interested in is being sure that we were deliberate in the philosophy we were going to use in our decision making process here and within the caucus and within the Senate," Hottinger says.

Hottinger was cautious and tentative about what direction he'll take the Senate, saying he wants to develop a consensus among his colleagues. But with the tide of Republican victories in this week's elections, Hottinger now represents one of the only barriers to GOP dominance. On issues from the budget to education funding to gun control, the eyes of many traditionally DFL constituencies will be watching him closely.

"The only chance we have of stopping anti-choice legislation, at least in the Legislature, is the power of the majority leader," says Tim Stanley, the executive director of Minnesota's chapter of the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League.

"And that's limited power, as we've come to realize with amendments being offered on the floor and things like that. They have the votes to be able to mark -- to rule -- anything germane on the Senate floor and thus assuring a complete landslide for an anti-choice vote," says Stanley.

Although Hottinger declined to lay out a specific message for Senate DFLers, he says Minnesotans can expect the Senate to do more than play defense. He says Democrats will continue to fight for the core issues of education, economic justice, and social inclusiveness.

House Speaker Steve Sviggum, whose hand was strengthened on Tuesday, says he respects Hottinger and looks forward to working with him. But he says Democrats should acknowledge the new political reality.

"The Senate certainly should recognize the same message that was sent to them as to -- by the citizens -- as well as to the House by the citizens of Minnesota in that trust, and that we'll be working together, cooperatively. I don't think it has to be one against the other. At least I hope it doesn't have to be one against the other," Sviggum says.

Sviggum will also be working with a new DFL leader in his own body. Matt Entenza is replacing House Minority Leader Tom Pugh, who's stepping down in the wake of a dramatic loss of House Democratic seats this year. Entenza says despite their setbacks at the ballot box, Democrats will still have a voice in state government.

"The Republicans are about to commit the biggest exercise of slash-and-burn economics that this state has ever seen," says Entenza. "They're going to go after our great universities, our public institutions, our teachers, our public schools. And it is our job to make sure that we stand and defend those institutions, defend the things that make Minnesota the great state that it is."

There will be changes in Republican leadership as well. When Senate Republicans will meet this morning Minority Leader Dick Day of Owatonna is expected to face a challenge for his position. And House Republicans will gather Saturday to select a replacement for governor-elect Pawlenty who is vacating his spot as the majority leader of that body.

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