DFL Rep. Lesch Called Up To National Guard

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- A Minnesota state representative is getting a National Guard call-up that means he'll miss the rest of the legislative session.

Rep. John Lesch, a St. Paul Democrat, has been summoned to training at Camp Ripley.

Lesch's absence complicates things for Democrats as they seek to pass a borrowing bill for construction projects around the state. The party had needed at least eight GOP votes for the necessary supermajority.

With Lesch's departure, they'll now need nine.

Lesch enlisted in the National Guard during fall 2009. He also missed a part of the 2010 legislative session while training at Fort Benning in Georgia.

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