Zellers: Minn. GOP Won't 'Ram' Bills In Recount

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Incoming state House Speaker Kurt Zellers says new Republican majorities in the Legislature won't "rush to ram something right through" if the governor's race is unresolved and Gov. Tim Pawlenty stays in office into the new year.

The race between Democrat Mark Dayton and Republican Tom Emmer is likely heading to an automatic recount. Dayton leads by almost 8,750 votes, but the process could stretch past the early-January swearing-in date for the new governor.

Pawlenty says he'll stay on if necessary which has some Democrats worried Republicans could take advantage of the timing to pass a few priorities.

Zellers, of Maple Grove, says it would be "disrespectful to either candidate and the people of Minnesota to somehow try to game the system or manipulate the recount." But he adds lawmakers are also obligated to work with whoever is governor and get started so a new budget is passed by the constitutionally required date of May 23.

(© Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)