KAOMI LEE SPOTLIGHTS SOME YOUNG SKI JUMPERS.

>> ERIC: WE'LL HEAR FROM HOUSE LEADERS LIVE IN JUST A FEW MINUTES, BUT FIRST, MARY LAHAMMER TAKES US THROUGH A BUSY WEEK AT THE CAPITOL WITH THE HISTORIC ELECTION OF THE REPUBLICAN SPEAKER OF THE MINNESOTA HOUSE.

>> REPRESENTATIVE DEMUTH IS THE DULY ELECTED SPEAKER OF THE MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

>> Mary: IT'S NOW OFFICIAL.

THE >> SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS REAT HONOR DOESN'T ESCAPE ME.

TODAY IS A TESTMENT TO THE PROGRESS AND THE POSSIBILITIES OF OUR GREAT STATE.

>> Mary: THE MINNESOTA HOUSE MAKES HISTORY, ENDING THE LONGEST BOYCOTT DENYING QUORUM AND ELECTING THE FIRST PERSON OF COLOR AS SPEAKER.

>> LISA'S AWESOME.

SHE AS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE LEVERED SM SHE'D JUST LED WITH A STEADY HAND >> KNOWING THAT I AM MAKING HISTORY ON TWO FRONTS, BY BEING A BLACK WOMAN, THE FIRST TO HOLD THIS POSITION, AND THEN ALSO THE FIRST REPUBLICAN FEMALE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

IS AN HONOR, BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY THAT IT WILL NO LONGER BE A SURPRISE OR AN UNUSUAL THING.

>> Mary: DEMOCRATS ARE STILL DOWN A MEMBER FTER A RESIDENCY ISSUE.

SO THEY HAD TO GIVE UP THE SPEAKER'S GAVEL FOR ALL TWO YEARS AND MOST COMMITTEE CHAIRS UNTIL A ARCH SPECIAL ELECTION.

>> PRIOR TO THIS CONFLICT, I PUBLICLY STATED THAT THIS TIE GIVES US A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THAT BIPARTISAN GOVERNING CAN WORK.

>> GETTING THROUGH HESE PAST COUPLE MONTHS HAVE BEEN REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT, BUT WE'RE GLAD TO BE HERE TO SUPPORT SHAKOPEE AND SUPPORT THE VOTERS OF MINNESOTA.

>> HOW DOES IT FEEL TO KIND OF BE THE LYNCH-PIN?

>> IT'S BEEN TIRING.

IT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN A FIGHT WE KNEW WE HAD TO TAKE.

WE COULDN'T LET AN ELECTION BE OVERTURNED.

>> Mary: IF THE HOUSE GOES BACK TO A TIE, OST OMMITTEES WILL HAVE AN EQUAL NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

>> IMPROVING OUR PUBLIC SAFETY.

IMPROVING OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM BY REDUCING MANDATES AND INCREASING ACCOUNTABILITY.

>> Mary: A NEW COMMITTEE ADDRESSING FRAUD WILL MAINTAIN A REPUBLICAN HAIR AND MAJORITY, UNLIKE THE OTHERS.

>> THE STRENGTH OF OUR COMMITTEE GOING FORWARD AND THE FACT THAT I WILL CONTINUE IT BE CHAIR FOR TWO YEARS AND NOT GO TO A CO-CHAIR RELATIONSHIP SHOWS THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO DOING THIS WORK AND THAT WE ARE RESPONDING TO WHAT MINNESOTANS WANT.

THEY DON'T WANT THEIR TAXPAYER MONEY WASTED.

>> Mary: A LARGER GROUP OF LEADING LAWMAKERS SPENT THE WEEK BEHIND CLOSED DOORS HAMMERING OUT THE DEAL AND THEY SAID THE TONE WAS MORE PRODUCTIVE, EVE CONGENIAL.

>> WE COMMITTED TO WORK TOGETHER ON THE BUDGET, TO GET THE BUDGET APPROVED ON A TIMELY BASIS OUT OF WAYS ND MEANS ON A NO SHENANIGANS HANDSHAKE.

>> IT HELPS TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM BUT I'M SO PROUD OF OUR SPEAKER TO BE AND MAJORITY LEADER BECAUSE THEY HELD STRONG THROUGHOUT THESE NEGOTIATIONS AND NEGOTIATED IN A RESPECTABLE WAY.

I THINK THAT'S SO IMPORTANT.

WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE INSTITUTION AND THE INTEGRITY OF THE INSTITUTION.

THERE'S SOME REPAIR WORK TO BE DONE.

>> Mary: FOR FRESHMAN LAWMAKERS IT'S THEIR FIRST LOOK AT A FULL CHAMBER.

>> IT FEELS GREAT.

IT'S GREAT TO GET BACK INTO THE CHAMBER WITH OUR COLLEAGUES AND GET TO WORK.

>> Mary: WHAT DID YOU HEAR, LIKE, THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

DID YOU YOUR CONSTITUENTS PUT SOME PRESSURE ON?

>> THEY'RE JUST DISGUSTED THAT FOLKS WEREN'T AT WORK.

THAT'S WHERE THE PRESSURE WAS.

MY DISTRICT WAS A 96-YEAR DEMOCRAT DISTRICT THAT WE FLIPPED.

AND SO FOLKS BACK HOME ARE JUST EXCITED TO SEE US IN THE CHAMBER.

>> IT IT DEPENDSES ON WHAT YOU CONSIDER A FIRST DAY I SUPPOSE.

BUT THIS IS THE FIRST OFFICIAL JUDICIAL RECOGNIZED FIRST DAY, IF YOU WILL.

>> Mary: OES IT FEEL DIFFERENT?

>> YEAH, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE ENERGY HERE.

IT REALLY FEELS LIKE WE GOT A GOOD END OF THIS DEAL AND THERE'S A LOT WORK TO BE DONE.

>> I DO.

[ Applause ] >> Mary: MEANWHILE, THE SENATE ENDS THEIR POWER SHARING AGREEMENT WITH A SPECIAL ELECTION OF A NEW DEMOCRAT.

>> THE D.F.L.

MAJORITY HAS RETURNED AND I'M EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EVERYONE IN THE SENATE.

>> MINNESOTANS HAVE SENT IN A DIVIDED SENATE AND A DIVIDED HOUSE.

AND IF WE CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA, WE HAVE TO WITH THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE