By Tom Scheck, Minnesota Public Radio News

When the Minnesota Legislature begins its 87th session today, Republicans will control both the House and Senate for the first time since 1972.

Topping the agenda for lawmakers will be finding a way to erase a projected $6.2 billion budget deficit. But Republican and Democratic differences over the budget could make it difficult to uphold pledges of bipartisan cooperation.

Still, the start of this legislative session offers promise as it marks the first time in decades that every member in a position of authority will be new to the job. There will be a new governor, a new Speaker of the House and a new Senate Majority Leader. There will also be new minority leaders.

The new faces could signal an end to several years of partisan sniping, as there will be fewer grudges and disagreements that percolated for years. Lt. Gov. Yvonne Prettner Solon signaled that optimism after she took the oath of office Monday.

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