Minnesota Republicans started the 2011 session having conquered titans. In the Legislature, GOP lawmakers had made a historic 54-seat gain in the House and Senate that fall, a swing that handed them majorities in both chambers for the first time in 38 years.

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.

DFL legislators have filed a protest over the selection of controversial preacher Bradlee Dean as House chaplain on Thursday. The minority members are also upset that House Speaker Kurt Zellers decided to expunge Dean's appearance from the official House record.

On Friday afternoon, controversial preacher Bradlee Dean called a press conference on the second floor of the Capitol. The apparent purpose was to speak with reporters about the controversy kicked up by his opening prayer at today's House session.

Freshman GOP Rep. Ernie Leidiger said inviting anti-gay pastor Bradley Dean to lead prayer on the House floor was an "honest mistake," one he hopes doesn't derail the constitutional amendment to bay gay marriage currently awaiting a vote in the chamber.

House Speaker Kurt Zellers issued a solemn apology for permitting incendiary preacher Bradlee Dean to provide the opening prayer at Friday's session. "The decorum and the dignity of this body is my responsibility," said Zellers. "I did not live up to that responsibility today. For that I apologize to each and every one of you."

With just days left in the regular legislative session and tensions running high over the budget and a constitutional amendment to ban gay marraige, a divisive pastor gave a controversial opening prayer on the House floor Friday.