LEGISLATURE ’15: GOP’s Back At The Table

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - The makeover at the Minnesota Capitol extends beyond the construction consuming the place.

Tuesday's start to a new legislative session brings a change in party power, too, with Republicans taking command of the House after two years on the periphery of state government.

Democrats still run the Senate and hold the governor's office by virtue of Mark Dayton's re-election.

The altered political configuration brings the usual promises of cooperation that will be quickly tested.

In all likelihood, Minnesotans are in for a session of small change rather than bold strokes the next 19 weeks.

Dayton and legislators will set a roughly $40 billion, two-year budget. They'll consider a long-term plan for road-and-bridge needs.

And they'll debate liquor-store hours, child-abuse investigation policies, teacher tenure and privacy laws amid today's technological renaissance.