Minnesota Senate GOP Picking New Majority Leader

ROSEVILLE, Minn. (AP) - Minnesota Senate Republicans are meeting to choose a new majority leader to replace Amy Koch, who resigned amid revelations she had an inappropriate relationship with a Senate staffer.

They gathered at a hotel in Roseville on Tuesday and plan a news conference to announce their new leader after the closed meeting.

Koch publicly admitted to the relationship last Wednesday. She gave up her leadership post Dec. 15, one day after she was confronted by her colleagues about the relationship, but remains a senator.

The new majority leader must try to unite a caucus that's reeling from scandal with the Jan. 24 opening of the legislative session approaching quickly. Republicans have held the majority only since last year, and all 67 senate seats will be on the ballot in 2012.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights reserved.)