Minn. House Republicans hint at 2012 legislative agenda

Republicans in the Minnesota House say they'll push for additional state-government reforms during the 2012 Legislative session.

They held a news conference Thursday to announce their plan to gather input from Minnesotans during the State Fair and other venues in the coming weeks and months. The GOP list of potential reforms includes lowering taxes and reducing government regulations.

House Speaker Kurt Zellers said the state has mandates and duplicative government functions that have outlived their usefulness.

"We need to change the way government works," he said.

DFL House Minority Leader Paul Thissen said he too wants to enact reforms next year. But he said Republicans need to work across party lines and put people ahead of corporate special interests.

"The ideas that I heard them suggesting today don't seem to reflect what we've been hearing in polls and in my meetings with folks across the state about what the people of Minnesota want for their government," he said.