In their first joint action of the 2013 session, the newly elected Democratic leaders of the Minnesota Legislature held a news conference to show they were on the same page regarding broad goals for the biennium. First and foremost, House Speaker Paul Thissen and Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk promised to balance a projected $1.1 billion budget deficit without gimmicks and without heading into a government shutdown.

Senate Democrats have dropped nearly the first 20 bills of the session, showing a focus on tax policy, early education and setting up a health insurance marketplace for 2013.

The prospects for a bonding bill in the 2013 legislative session remain far from certain. But many observers think the state Capitol building is in line for about $100 million in bonding money from any package the Legislature ultimately concocts.

A short tour of four potential scenarios as the Dayton administration and the DFL Legislature weigh the next Minnesota budget.

Myron Frans has been making the pitch for about two years now. The Minneapolis tax attorney turned revenue commissioner started his tenure in Gov. Mark Dayton’s administration out on the road, carrying with him a pair of stools to demonstrate the need for comprehensive changes to the state’s tax code.

While seniority ruled in the majority's selections for committee chairs, a number of newly elected senators will serve as committee vice-chairs.

Close on the heels of Tuesday’s election, members of the new DFL House and Senate majorities gathered behind closed doors on Thursday to elect their leaders. As expected, the minority leaders who helped steer Democrats back into control — Rep. Paul Thissen, DFL-Minneapolis, and Sen. Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook — were elevated to House speaker and Senate majority leader.

For students of the state Capitol and its deteriorating condition, the long-awaited plan to restore the 106-year-old statehouse contained little in the way of new information about the building’s problems.

The changing demographics and DFL-friendly voting record of Senate District 46 signaled an easy win for DFL Sen.-elect Chris Eaton in Tuesday’s special election.

A report by the Minnesota Legislative Auditor that points to flaws in the state’s K-12 online education program is likely to land on the 2012 legislative agenda.