# 84th Minnesota Legislature

The eighty-fourth Minnesota Legislature first convened on January 4, 2005. The 67 members of the Minnesota Senate were elected during the General Election on November 5, 2002, while the 134 members of the Minnesota House of Representatives were elected during the General Election on November 2, 2004.

## Sessions

The legislature met in a regular session from January 4, 2005 to May 23, 2005. It ended without a passage of an overall budget, and a special session was opened May 24, 2005. No overall budget passed by the end of the fiscal year on June 30, and much of the state government shut down for the first time in history, though some essential services remained in operation, and some departments received funding in legislation. On July 9, 2005, a budget was agreed upon, and the special session ended a few days later on July 13, 2005.
A continuation of the regular session was held between March 1, 2006 and May 21, 2006.

## Party summary

    Resignations and new members are discussed in the "Membership changes" section, below.

### Senate

| | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | Vacant |
| | DFL | IPM | Rep | Total | Vacant |
| End of previous Legislature | 35 | 1 | 31 | 67 | 0 |
| Begin | 35 | 1 | 31 | 67 | 0 |
| September 21, 2005 | 35 | 1 | 30 | 66 | 1 |
| November 21, 2005 | 35 | 1 | 29 | 65 | 2 |
| December 7, 2005 | 36 | 1 | 29 | 66 | 1 |
| December 31, 2005 | 36 | 1 | 28 | 65 | 2 |
| January 5, 2006 | 36 | 1 | 29 | 66 | 1 |
| January 6, 2006 | 37 | 1 | 29 | 67 | 0 |
| January 6, 2006 | 38 | 0 | 29 | 67 | 0 |
| Latest voting share | 57% | 0% | 43% | | |
| Beginning of the next Legislature | 44 | 0 | 23 | 67 | 0 |

### House of Representatives

| | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | Vacant |
| | DFL | Rep | Total | Vacant |
| End of previous Legislature | 52 | 77 | 129 | 5 |
| Begin | 66 | 68 | 134 | 0 |
| December 12, 2005 | 65 | 68 | 133 | 1 |
| December 27, 2005 | 66 | 68 | 134 | 0 |
| June 21, 2006 | 66 | 67 | 133 | 1 |
| Latest voting share | 50% | 50% | | |
| Beginning of the next Legislature | 85 | 49 | 134 | 0 |

## Leadership
### Senate
#### President of the Senate

    James Metzen (DFL-South St. Paul)

#### Senate Majority Leader

    Dean Johnson (DFL-Willmar)

#### Senate Minority Leader

    Dick Day (R-Owatonna)

### House of Representatives
#### Speaker of the House

    Steve Sviggum (R-Kenyon)

#### House Majority Leader

    Erik Paulsen (R-Eden Prairie)

#### House Minority Leader

    Matt Entenza (DFL-St. Paul)

## Members
### Senate

| Name | District | City | Party |
| Anderson, Ellen | 66 | St. Paul | DFL |
| Bachmann, Michele | 52 | Stillwater | Rep |
| Bakk, Thomas | 06 | Cook | DFL |
| Belanger, William | 40 | Bloomington | Rep |
| Berglin, Linda | 61 | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Betzold, Don | 51 | Fridley | DFL |
| Bonoff, Terri | 43 | Minnetonka | DFL |
| Chaudhary, Satveer | 50 | Fridley | DFL |
| Clark, Tarryl | 15 | St. Cloud | DFL |
| Cohen, Dick | 64 | St. Paul | DFL |
| Day, Dick | 26 | Owatonna | Rep |
| Dibble, D. Scott | 60 | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Dille, Steve | 18 | Dassel | Rep |
| Fischbach, Michelle | 14 | Paynesville | Rep |
| Foley, Leo | 47 | Coon Rapids | DFL |
| Frederickson, Dennis | 21 | New Ulm | Rep |
| Gerlach, Chris | 37 | Apple Valley | Rep |
| Hann, David | 42 | Eden Prairie | Rep |
| Higgins, Linda | 58 | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Hottinger, John | 23 | Mankato | DFL |
| Johnson, Dean | 13 | Willmar | DFL |
| Johnson, Debbie | 49 | Ham Lake | Rep |
| Jungbauer, Michael | 48 | East Bethel | Rep |
| Kelley, Steve | 44 | Hopkins | DFL |
| Kierlin, Bob | 31 | Winona | Rep |
| Kiscaden, Sheila | 30 | Rochester | DFL |
| Koch, Amy | 19 | Buffalo | Rep |
| Koering, Paul | 12 | Fort Ripley | Rep |
| Kubly, Gary | 20 | Granite Falls | DFL |
| Langseth, Keith | 09 | Glyndon | DFL |
| Larson, Cal | 10 | Fergus Falls | Rep |
| LeClair, Brian | 56 | Woodbury | Rep |
| Limmer, Warren | 32 | Maple Grove | Rep |
| Lourey, Becky | 08 | Kerrick | DFL |
| Marko, Sharon | 57 | Newport | DFL |
| Marty, John | 54 | Roseville | DFL |
| McGinn, Mike | 38 | Eagan | Rep |
| Metzen, James | 39 | South St. Paul | DFL |
| Michel, Geoff | 41 | Edina | Rep |
| Moua, Mee | 67 | St. Paul | DFL |
| Murphy, Steve | 28 | Red Wing | DFL |
| Neuville, Thomas | 25 | Northfield | Rep |
| Nienow, Sean | 17 | Cambridge | Rep |
| Olson, Gen | 33 | Minnetrista | Rep |
| Ortman, Julianne | 34 | Chanhassen | Rep |
| Pappas, Sandra | 65 | St. Paul | DFL |
| Pariseau, Pat | 36 | Farmington | Rep |
| Pogemiller, Lawrence | 59 | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Ranum, Jane | 63 | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Reiter, Mady | 53 | Shoreview | Rep |
| Rest, Ann | 45 | New Hope | DFL |
| Robling, Claire | 35 | Jordan | Rep |
| Rosen, Julie | 24 | Fairmont | Rep |
| Ruud, Carrie | 04 | Breezy Point | Rep |
| Sams, Dallas | 11 | Staples | DFL |
| Saxhaug, Tom | 03 | Grand Rapids | DFL |
| Scheid, Linda | 46 | Brooklyn Park | DFL |
| Senjem, David | 29 | Rochester | Rep |
| Skoe, Rod | 02 | Clearbrook | DFL |
| Skoglund, Wes | 62 | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Solon, Yvonne Prettner | 07 | Duluth | DFL |
| Sparks, Dan | 27 | Austin | DFL |
| Stumpf, LeRoy | 01 | Plummer | DFL |
| Tomassoni, David J. | 05 | Chisholm | DFL |
| Vickerman, Jim | 22 | Tracy | DFL |
| Wergin, Betsy | 16 | Princeton | Rep |
| Wiger, Chuck | 55 | North St. Paul | DFL |

### House of Representatives

| Name | District | City | Party |
| Abeler, Jim | 48B | Anoka | Rep |
| Anderson, Bruce | 19A | Buffalo Township | Rep |
| Abrams, Ron | 43B | Minnetonka | Rep |
| Anderson, Irv | 03A | International Falls | DFL |
| Atkins, Joe | 39B | Inver Grove Heights | DFL |
| Beard, Michael | 35A | Shakopee | Rep |
| Bernardy, Connie | 51B | Fridley | DFL |
| Blaine, Greg | 12B | Little Falls | Rep |
| Bradley, Fran | 29B | Rochester | Rep |
| Brod, Laura | 25A | New Prague | Rep |
| Buesgens, Mark | 35B | Jordan | Rep |
| Carlson, Lyndon | 45B | Crystal | DFL |
| Charron, Mike | 56A | Woodbury | Rep |
| Clark, Karen | 61A | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Cornish, Tony | 24B | Good Thunder | Rep |
| Cox, Ray | 25B | Northfield | Rep |
| Cybart, Lloyd | 37A | Apple Valley | Rep |
| Davids, Gregory | 31B | Preston | Rep |
| Davnie, Jim | 62A | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Dean, Matt | 52B | Dellwood | Rep |
| DeLaForest, Chris | 49A | Andover | Rep |
| Demmer, Randy | 29A | Hayfield | Rep |
| Dempsey, Jerry | 28A | Hastings | Rep |
| Dill, David | 06A | Crane Lake Township | DFL |
| Dittrich, Denise | 47A | Champlin | DFL |
| Dorman, Dan | 27A | Albert Lea | Rep |
| Dorn, John | 23B | Mankato | DFL |
| Eastlund, Rob | 17A | Isanti | Rep |
| Eken, Kent | 02A | Twin Valley | DFL |
| Ellison, Keith | 58B | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Emmer, Tom | 19B | Delano | Rep |
| Matt Entenza | 64A | St. Paul | DFL |
| Erhardt, Ron | 41A | Edina | Rep |
| Erickson, Sondra | 16A | Princeton | Rep |
| Finstad, Brad | 21B | Comfrey | Rep |
| Fritz, Patti | 26B | Faribault | DFL |
| Garofalo, Pat | 36B | Farmington | Rep |
| Gazelka, Paul | 12A | Brainerd | Rep |
| Goodwin, Barbara | 50A | Columbia Heights | DFL |
| Greiling, Mindy | 54A | Roseville | DFL |
| Gunther, Bob | 24A | Fairmont | Rep |
| Hackbarth, Tom | 48A | Cedar | Rep |
| Hamilton, Rod | 22B | Mountain Lake | Rep |
| Hansen, Rick | 39A | South St. Paul | DFL |
| Hausman, Alice | 66B | St. Paul | DFL |
| Haws, Larry | 15B | St. Cloud | DFL |
| Heidgerken, Bud | 13A | Freeport | Rep |
| Hilstrom, Debra | 46B | Brooklyn Center | DFL |
| Hilty, Bill | 08A | Finlayson | DFL |
| Holberg, Mary Liz | 36A | Lakeville | Rep |
| Hoppe, Joe | 34B | Chaska | Rep |
| Hornstein, Frank | 60B | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Hortman, Melissa | 47B | Brooklyn Park | DFL |
| Hosch, Larry | 14B | St. Joseph | DFL |
| Howes, Larry | 04B | Walker | Rep |
| Huntley, Thomas | 07A | Duluth | DFL |
| Jaros, Mike | 07B | Duluth | DFL |
| Johnson, Jeff | 43A | Plymouth | Rep |
| Johnson, Ruth | 23A | St. Peter | DFL |
| Johnson, Sheldon | 67B | St. Paul | DFL |
| Juhnke, Al | 13B | Willmar | DFL |
| Kahn, Phyllis | 59B | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Kelliher, Margaret Anderson | 60A | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Klinzing, Karen | 56B | Woodbury | Rep |
| Knoblach, Jim | 15A | St. Cloud | Rep |
| Koenen, Lyle | 20B | Clara City | DFL |
| Kohls, Paul | 34A | Victoria | Rep |
| Krinkie, Philip | 53A | Shoreview | Rep |
| Lanning, Morrie | 09A | Moorhead | Rep |
| Larson, Dan | 63B | Bloomington | DFL |
| Latz, Ron | 44B | St. Louis Park | DFL |
| Lenczewski, Ann | 40B | Bloomington | DFL |
| Lesch, John | 66A | St. Paul | DFL |
| Liebling, Tina | 30A | Rochester | DFL |
| Lieder, Bernard | 01B | Crookston | DFL |
| Lillie, Leon | 55A | North St. Paul | DFL |
| Loeffler, Diane | 59A | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Magnus, Doug | 22A | Slayton | Rep |
| Mahoney, Tim | 67A | St. Paul | DFL |
| Mariani, Carlos | 65B | St. Paul | DFL |
| Marquart, Paul | 09B | Dilworth | DFL |
| McNamara, Denny | 57B | Hastings | Rep |
| Meslow, Doug | 53B | White Bear Lake | Rep |
| Moe, Frank | 04A | Bemidji | DFL |
| Mullery, Joe | 58A | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Murphy, Mary | 06B | Hermantown | DFL |
| Nelson, Michael | 46A | Brooklyn Park | DFL |
| Nelson, Peter | 17B | Lindstrom | Rep |
| Newman, Scott | 18A | Hutchinson | Rep |
| Nornes, Bud | 10A | Fergus Falls | Rep |
| Olson, Mark | 16B | Big Lake | Rep |
| Otremba, Mary Ellen | 11B | Long Prairie | DFL |
| Ozment, Dennis | 37B | Rosemount | Rep |
| Paulsen, Erik | 42B | Eden Prairie | Rep |
| Paymar, Michael | 64B | St. Paul | DFL |
| Pelowski, Gene | 31A | Winona | DFL |
| Penas, Maxine | 01A | Badger | Rep |
| Peppin, Joyce | 32A | Rogers | Rep |
| Peterson, Aaron | 20A | Appleton | DFL |
| Peterson, Neil W. | 41B | Bloomington | Rep |
| Peterson, Sandra | 45A | New Hope | DFL |
| Poppe, Jeanne | 27B | Austin | DFL |
| Powell, Duke | 40A | Burnsville | Rep |
| Rukavina, Tom | 05A | Virginia | DFL |
| Ruth, Connie | 26A | Owatonna | Rep |
| Ruud, Maria | 42A | Minnetonka | DFL |
| Sailer, Brita | 02B | Park Rapids | DFL |
| Samuelson, Char | 50B | New Brighton | Rep |
| Scalze, Bev | 54B | Little Canada | DFL |
| Seifert, Marty | 21A | Marshall | Rep |
| Sertich, Tony | 05B | Chisholm | DFL |
| Severson, Dan | 14A | Sauk Rapids | Rep |
| Sieben, Katie | 57A | Newport | DFL |
| Simon, Steve | 44A | St. Louis Park | DFL |
| Simpson, Dean | 10B | Perham | Rep |
| Slawik, Nora | 55B | Maplewood | Rep |
| Smith, Steve | 33A | Mound | Rep |
| Soderstrom, Judy | 08B | Mora | Rep |
| Solberg, Loren | 03B | Grand Rapids | DFL |
| Sviggum, Steve | 28B | Kenyon | Rep |
| Sykora, Barb | 33B | Excelsior | Rep |
| Thao, Cy | 65A | St. Paul | DFL |
| Thissen, Paul | 63A | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Tingelstad, Kathy | 49B | Andover | Rep |
| Urdahl, Dean | 18B | Grove City | Rep |
| Vandeveer, Ray | 52A | Forest Lake | Rep |
| Wagenius, Jean | 62B | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Walker, Neva | 61B | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Wardlow, Lynn | 38B | Eagan | Rep |
| Welti, Andy | 30B | Plainview | DFL |
| Westerberg, Andy | 51A | Blaine | Rep |
| Westrom, Torrey | 11A | Elbow Lake | Rep |
| Wilkin, Tim | 38A | Eagan | Rep |
| Zellers, Kurt | 32B | Maple Grove | Rep |

## Membership changes
### Senate

| District | Vacated by | Reason for change | Successor | Date successor seated |
| 43 | David Gaither (R) | Resigned September 21, 2005 to become Governor Tim Pawlenty's chief of staff. | Terri Bonoff (DFL) | December 7, 2005 |
| 15 | Dave Kleis (R) | Resigned November 21, 2005 to become mayor of St. Cloud. | Tarryl Clark (DFL) | January 6, 2006 |
| 19 | Mark Ourada (R) | Resigned December 31, 2005. | Amy Koch (R) | January 5, 2006 |

### House of Representatives

| District | Vacated by | Reason for change | Successor | Date successor seated |
| 15B | Joe Opatz (DFL) | Resigned December 12, 2005 to become interim president of Central Lakes College. | Larry Haws (DFL) | January 19, 2006 |
| 43B | Ron Abrams (R) | Resigned June 21, 2006 to accept appointment to judgeship. | Remained vacant | Remained vacant |