The issue of voting registration apparently did not arise during the debate over the legislation's passage more than a dozen years ago.

Supporting Michele Bachmann’s presidential bid wasn’t necessarily an easy decision for David FitzSimmons. While the three-term Republican congresswoman would seem a natural choice for FitzSimmons, who chairs the Republican Party in her home 6th District, he was squarely in the Ron Paul camp during the 2008 election and worked for his campaign.

Around 4 o’clock last Saturday afternoon, the central drama of Session 2011’s closing days finally reared its head on the House floor. Shortly before the chamber recessed for dinner, GOP Rep. Mary Liz Holberg stood to announce the addition of a controversial constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage to the calendar for that evening’s proceedings.

The Republicans' return to the majority in the state House has resulted in the return of some old faces in the senior staff ranks. The newly appointed leadership staff includes Chas Anderson, Jodi Boyne, Annie Paruccini and Bill Walsh, who each worked for the House GOP Caucus earlier in their careers.

Tom Emmer's gubernatorial campaign has a new head of media operations. Public relations executive Carl Kuhl recently joined team Emmer as communications director.

Deputy Communications Director Bill Walsh has left Tom Emmer’s gubernatorial campaign and returned to his role as communications director for the Minnesota Department of Education.

Former GOP Rep. Karen Klinzing has moved into a new role as deputy commissioner at the Minnesota Department of Education. The department also has named two new assistant commissioners.

Behind a secretary’s desk not far from Ramona A. de Rosales’ elementary school office, a piece of paper is tacked up on the wall. On it is a large black circle emblazoned with bold white letters: “Bang head here.”

Bill Walsh, communications director for the Minnesota Department of Education, is taking a four-month leave of absence to become deputy communications director for Tom Emmer's gubernatorial campaign.