Out of power, MN congressional Democrats see room to maneuver

Some Minnesota congressional Democrats seem surprisingly optimistic about losing power.

Republicans will control the U.S. House and Senate next year and no politician wants to be in the minority. But members on both sides of the aisle expect a degree of stability now that the GOP will run both houses. That may open new opportunities to work together.

The GOP plans to look for issues that at least some Democrats are likely to support, said 3rd District GOP Rep. Erik Paulsen.

High on Paulsen's list is a repeal of the medical device tax that's part of the Affordable Care Act.

Even though Democrats generally oppose making changes to the law, undoing the tax is one provision that's gathered bipartisan support.

"I think the philosophy that our leadership has is that we're going to start producing legislation and looking for opportunities to show that we can govern and get some things done," Paulsen said.

As the recent vote to fund the government made clear, there are deep splits within both parties — deep enough that some DFLers see an opening.

"Sometimes in the minority you actually have more leverage than you might otherwise," said 1st District DFL Rep. Tim Walz. He thinks GOP House Speaker John Boehner may try to push legislation that won't have the support of tea party-allied Republicans.

"They're going to need some moderates to help them out on some things, and I think that's a role that we play well," Walz said. "That's what my constituents want me to do."

Another lawmaker angling to be a dealmaker is DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

She's been given a leadership post to help find common ground with Republicans on areas such as finding more money for transportation spending.

"I actually think I will be busier than we've been in quite awhile because I think there's going to be a lot of votes and a lot of movement," she said.

Not everyone is quite so sunny. Democrats will have their smallest minority in the House since 1930.

While she's looking forward to her work as the incoming top Democrat on the House Appropriations subcommittee panel overseeing the Interior Department, 4th District DFL Rep. Betty McCollum believes Republicans are likely to use their new control over Congress as a launching pad for attacks and investigations on the Obama Administration.​

While he plans to look for common ground on some issues, newly re-elected DFL Sen. Al Franken says Democrats may need to use procedural tactics such as filibusters to stop Republican moves to cut financial and environmental regulations.

"I want to get stuff done," Franken said. "My fear is that majority is going to be trying to get stuff undone."

Minnesota's longest-serving member of Congress, 13-term DFL Rep. Collin Peterson, was also less sanguine.

"Instead of the House not being able to work with the Senate, I think what will happen is that they pass bills that Obama will veto," he said.

Peterson says he plans to keep his head down and focus on the House Agriculture Committee, where he's the top Democrat.

Even if Congress is more productive in its next session, many members agree the window for getting things done will start closing by the end of 2015 as the presidential campaign heats up.