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Technology offers real-time view of Minn. session

January 6, 2013 | Modified: January 6, 2013 at 5:00 pm
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Photo -   ADVANCE FOR MONDAY JAN. 7 - In this May 1, 2012 photo, laptops fill the desks in the Minnesota House chamber as Rep. Paul Thissen addresses the body in St. Paul, Minn. As the 2013 Legislature convenes, the laptop-equipped lawmakers have the opportunity through the internet to reach the public and a growing number of legislators actively post to Twitter and Facebook while they help make law. For the public willing to be there in person, both the House and Senate provide galleries. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
ADVANCE FOR MONDAY JAN. 7 - In this May 1, 2012 photo, laptops fill the desks in the Minnesota House chamber as Rep. Paul Thissen addresses the body in St. Paul, Minn. As the 2013 Legislature convenes, the laptop-equipped lawmakers have the opportunity through the internet to reach the public and a growing number of legislators actively post to Twitter and Facebook while they help make law. For the public willing to be there in person, both the House and Senate provide galleries. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Another legislative session is about to get underway in Minnesota, and anyone with the ambition, the time and the travel resources can get a front seat to the legislative process.

The House and Senate both have public galleries. Most session days feature up to a dozen committee hearings, all open to the public. And technology, from the Legislature's website to social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, offer increasingly real-time views of Capitol happenings.

The session that starts Tuesday should provide a good show. Democrats are fully running the Capitol for the first time in years, and there are likely to be hot debates over tax increases, gay marriage, gun laws and plenty of other interesting issues.