HELENA -- In another dramatic reversal of political fortune, Republicans on Tuesday officially seized majority control of the Montana House by a 50-49 margin, giving them a toe-hold in policymaking at the 2007 Legislature.

A hand recount in House District 58 in Laurel undid a tie and gave Republican Kratyon Kerns a three-vote victory margin, thus giving Republicans 50 members in the 100-vote House.

That's not a clear majority, but Constitution Party Rep. Rick Jore of Ronan has said he expects to vote with Republicans on the rules and leadership choices, essentially creating majority control for Republicans.

With that power, the top officers in the House will be Republicans. They'll also make committee assignments and have majority control of committees, enabling them to present an agenda that may differ from that of Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer and the Democrat-controlled Senate.

Yet incoming House Majority Leader Michael Lange, R-Billings, said Tuesday evening the Republicans' slim majority in the House doesn't erase the fact that both sides will have to work together to get things done.

Republicans can present their ideas more easily in the House, he said, but none can pass without the approval of Democrats.

"The people of Montana have chosen balance in their government," he said. "Whether that was intended or not, that's what they did. It really points out to both sides the need to come out with bills that people want.

"We want to bring good bills forward and we want to work with the governor's office and the Senate in (moving forward) those bills."

Rep. John Parker, D-Great Falls, who was chosen Monday by fellow House Democrats as their leader for the 2007 session, said Tuesday evening that Democrats still believe they can move their political agenda forward.

"The challenge for the House Demos is the same as it was yesterday,'' he said. "We've got to achieve progress by finding moderate Republicans who share our commitment to economic development, strong schools and affordable health care.

"Yesterday we needed to find one extra vote. Today we've got to find two.''

The 2007 Legislature convenes Jan. 3 in Helena, with the state looking at a potential $1 billion surplus for the next two years.

Schweitzer has proposed some spending increases in many agencies, but he also has proposed $150 million in tax cuts or rebates and a spending cap, above which any funds would be placed in a "rainy day'' account.

Some Republican leaders, including incoming House Speaker Scott Sales, have said they'd like to see broader property-tax cuts and more surplus funds returned to taxpayers in the form of rebates or tax cuts.

The recount result means that Sales, of Bozeman, will be the next speaker of the House, and that Lange will be majority leader.

Parker, who had been the Democrats' choice for speaker if they had retained 50 seats, will be the new House minority leader.

Lange said he'd like to have party leaders meet in Helena as soon as possible to settle the rules for the 2007 session perhaps even later this week. A Rules Committee meeting had been scheduled for Dec. 11, but Lange said he wants to hold it earlier, so staff can be hired and committees assignments can be made.

With Republicans controlling a majority, it's expected they will chair the committees and have a slim majority on most committees. However, it also must be decided how Jore fits into the committee picture.

It's possible that Jore may be able to choose several committees to sit on, and that Democrats and Republicans would have an even number of members on those committees. But those decision won't be final until the Rules Committee meets and final rules are adopted by the House in January.

Kerns' victory in the recount defeated Rep. Emelie Eaton, D-Laurel. It appeared after election day that Kerns had won by 14 votes, but Eaton then won 17 of 20 additional ballots that were counted later, forging a tie.

Gov. Schweitzer appoints the winner in the case of a tie, and said he would appoint Eaton. But the recount erased three votes cast for Eaton, giving Kerns the victory.