Minnesota Lawmakers Ease Off Constitutional Changes

That has something to do with voters' rejecting two constitutional amendments earlier this month — one to ban gay marriage and one to require photo ID to vote. Republicans put those on the ballot, and they are blamed for costing the GOP their majorities.

Sen. Tom Bakk and Rep. Erin Murphy, who will lead Democrats in their respective chambers, say amendments aren't a priority for now.

One factor may be that their party also holds the governorship. Republicans passed amendments in part to work around Gov. Mark Dayton, who opposed them on both issues but had no power to block the amendments from a citizen vote.