Eden Prairie Sen. David Hann was chosen by Senate Republicans to be the Senate minority leader for the party in the upcoming state legislative session. It is unclear how many challengers there were for the post. The state Republican House will pick its minority leader Saturday.

After a caucus meeting that lasted more than five hours, Minnesota House Republicans Saturday selected Rep. Kurt Daudt from Crown, in Isanti County, to be their new minority leader. The pick comes a day after Senate Republicans picked Sen. David Hann of Eden Prairie to be Senate minority leader.

Democratic Sen. Tom Bakk, in a letter to incoming Senate Majority Leader David Senjem, said "The integrity and honor of the Minnesota Senate have been seriously called into question" and urged Senjem to look into any ethical or legal questions. Senjem has indicated that Senate Republicans would like to put the matter behind them.

The Senate will hold a private caucus just after Christmas to elect Sen. Amy Koch's replacement. The majority leader is the state Senate's most powerful figure.

Amy Koch issued a surprise announcement that she's stepping down as Majority Leader of the Minnesota Senate. Koch's letter to fellow Republicans did not specify a reason, but called the past year challenging, exciting, and exhausting.

Senate GOP spokesman Steve Sviggum said the party will reimburse the state for the $47 cost of the fliers, which included links to a partisan GOP campaign site. But Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk says $47 doesn't come close to the handouts' full cost.

Gov. Mark Dayton, Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk and House Minority Leader Rep. Paul Thissen are traveling around the state Tuesday to push their message. DFLers are also taking credit for the stadium and bonding bill.