# 79th Minnesota Legislature

The seventy-ninth Minnesota Legislature first convened on January 3, 1995. The 67 members of the Minnesota Senate were elected during the general election of November 3, 1992, and the 134 members of the Minnesota House of Representatives were elected during the general election of November 8, 1994.

## Sessions

The legislature met in a regular session from January 3, 1995, to May 22, 1995. A special session convened from May 23, 1995, to May 25, 1995, to consider funding for K-12 schools and other unfinished business.
A continuation of the regular session was held between January 16, 1996, and April 3, 1996.

## Party summary

    Resignations and new members are discussed in the "Membership changes" section, below. On September 23, 1995, the Independent Republican Party changed its name back to the Republican Party.

### Senate

| | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | Vacant |
| | DFL | Ind | IR | Total | Vacant |
| End of previous Legislature | 43 | 0 | 24 | 67 | 0 |
| Begin | 43 | 0 | 24 | 67 | 0 |
| January 3, 1995 | 43 | 0 | 23 | 66 | 1 |
| February 13, 1995 | 43 | 0 | 24 | 67 | 0 |
| January 9, 1996 | 42 | 0 | 24 | 66 | 1 |
| February 12, 1996 | 42 | 0 | 25 | 67 | 0 |
| May 1996 | 41 | 1 | 25 | 67 | 0 |
| July 1, 1996 | 40 | 1 | 25 | 66 | 1 |
| Latest voting share | 60% | 1% | 37% | | |
| Beginning of the next Legislature | 42 | 1 | 24 | 67 | 0 |

### House of Representatives

| | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | Vacant |
| | DFL | IR | Total | Vacant |
| End of previous Legislature | 84 | 50 | 134 | 0 |
| Begin | 71 | 63 | 134 | 0 |
| February 2, 1995 | 71 | 62 | 133 | 1 |
| February 21, 1995 | 70 | 62 | 132 | 2 |
| March 13, 1995 | 70 | 63 | 133 | 1 |
| April 4, 1995 | 70 | 64 | 134 | 0 |
| June 18, 1995 | 69 | 64 | 133 | 1 |
| July 1, 1995 | 69 | 63 | 132 | 2 |
| July 11, 1995 | 69 | 64 | 133 | 1 |
| August 1, 1995 | 69 | 65 | 134 | 0 |
| October 15, 1996 | 68 | 65 | 133 | 1 |
| Latest voting share | 51% | 49% | | |
| Beginning of the next Legislature | 70 | 64 | 134 | 0 |

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

    Allan Spear (DFL-Minneapolis)

#### Senate Majority Leader

    Roger Moe (DFL-Erskine)

#### Senate Minority Leader

    Dean Johnson (R-Willmar)

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

    Irv Anderson (DFL-International Falls)

#### House Majority Leader

    Phil Carruthers (DFL-Brooklyn Center)

#### House Minority Leader

    Steve Sviggum (R-Kenyon)

## Members
### Senate

| Name | District | City | Party |
| Anderson, Ellen | 66 | St. Paul | DFL |
| Beckman, Tracy | 26 | Bricelyn | DFL |
| Belanger, William | 41 | Bloomington | IR |
| Berg, Charlie | 13 | Chokio | Ind |
| Berglin, Linda | 61 | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Bertram, Joe | 14 | Paynesville | DFL |
| Betzold, Don | 48 | Fridley | DFL |
| Chandler, Kevin M. | 55 | White Bear Lake | DFL |
| Chmielewski, Florian | 08 | Sturgeon Lake | DFL |
| Cohen, Dick | 64 | St. Paul | DFL |
| Day, Dick | 28 | Owatonna | IR |
| Dille, Steve | 20 | Dassel | IR |
| Finn, Skip | 04 | Cass Lake | DFL |
| Fischbach, Michelle | 14 | Paynesville | IR |
| Flynn, Carol | 62 | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Frederickson, Dennis | 23 | New Ulm | IR |
| Hanson, Paula | 50 | Ham Lake | DFL |
| Hottinger, John | 24 | Mankato | DFL |
| Janezich, Jerry | 05 | Chisholm | DFL |
| Johnson, Dean | 15 | Willmar | IR |
| Johnson, Doug | 06 | Tower | DFL |
| Johnson, Janet | 18 | North Branch | DFL |
| Johnston, Terry | 35 | Prior Lake | IR |
| Kelly, Randy | 67 | St. Paul | DFL |
| Kiscaden, Sheila | 30 | Rochester | IR |
| Kleis, Dave | 16 | St. Cloud | IR |
| Knutson, David | 36 | Burnsville | IR |
| Kramer, Don | 47 | Brooklyn Center | IR |
| Krentz, Jane | 51 | May Township | DFL |
| Kroening, Carl | 58 | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Laidig, Gary | 56 | Stillwater | IR |
| Langseth, Keith | 09 | Glyndon | DFL |
| Larson, Cal | 10 | Fergus Falls | IR |
| Lesewski, Arlene | 21 | Marshall | IR |
| Lessard, Bob | 03 | International Falls | DFL |
| Limmer, Warren | 33 | Maple Grove | IR |
| Marty, John | 54 | Roseville | DFL |
| McGowan, Pat | 33 | Maple Grove | IR |
| Merriam, Gene | 49 | Coon Rapids | DFL |
| Metzen, James | 39 | South St. Paul | DFL |
| Moe, Roger | 02 | Erskine | DFL |
| Mondale, Ted | 44 | Saint Louis Park | DFL |
| Morse, Steven | 32 | Dakota | DFL |
| Murphy, Steve | 29 | Red Wing | DFL |
| Neuville, Thomas | 25 | Northfield | IR |
| Novak, Steve | 52 | New Brighton | DFL |
| Oliver, Edward | 43 | Deephaven | IR |
| Olson, Gen | 34 | Minnetrista | IR |
| Ourada, Mark | 19 | Buffalo | IR |
| Pappas, Sandra | 65 | St. Paul | DFL |
| Pariseau, Pat | 37 | Farmington | IR |
| Piper, Pat | 27 | Austin | DFL |
| Pogemiller, Larry | 59 | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Price, Leonard | 57 | Woodbury | DFL |
| Ranum, Jane | 63 | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Reichgott Junge, Ember | 46 | New Hope | DFL |
| Riveness, Phil | 40 | Bloomington | DFL |
| Robertson, Martha | 45 | Minnetonka | IR |
| Runbeck, Linda | 53 | Circle Pines | IR |
| Sams, Dallas | 11 | Staples | DFL |
| Samuelson, Don | 12 | Brainerd | DFL |
| Scheevel, Kenric | 31 | Preston | IR |
| Solon, Sam | 07 | Duluth | DFL |
| Spear, Allan | 60 | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Stevens, Dan | 17 | Mora | IR |
| Stumpf, LeRoy | 01 | Thief River Falls | DFL |
| Terwilliger, Roy | 42 | Edina | IR |
| Vickerman, Jim | 22 | Tracy | DFL |
| Wiener, Deanna | 38 | Eagan | DFL |

### House of Representatives

| Name | District | City | Party |
| Abrams, Ron | 45A | Minnetonka | IR |
| Anderson, Bob | 10A | Ottertail | DFL |
| Anderson, Bruce | 19B | Buffalo | IR |
| Anderson, Irv | 03A | International Falls | DFL |
| Bakk, Tom | 06A | Cook | DFL |
| Bertram, Jeff | 14B | Paynesville | DFL |
| Bettermann, Hilda | 10B | Brandon | IR |
| Bishop, Dave | 30B | Rochester | IR |
| Boudreau, Lynda | 25B | Faribault | IR |
| Bradley, Fran | 30A | Rochester | IR |
| Broecker, Sherry | 53B | Vadnais Heights | IR |
| Brown, Chuck | 13A | Appleton | DFL |
| Carlson, Lyndon | 46B | Crystal | DFL |
| Carlson, Skip | 52A | Fridley | IR |
| Carruthers, Phil | 47B | Brooklyn Center | DFL |
| Clark, Karen | 61A | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Commers, Tim | 38A | Eagan | IR |
| Cooper, Roger | 15B | Bird Island | DFL |
| Daggett, Roxann | 11A | Frazee | IR |
| Dauner, Marvin | 09B | Hawley | DFL |
| Davids, Gregory | 31B | Preston | IR |
| Dawkins, Andy | 65A | St. Paul | DFL |
| Dehler, Steve | 14A | St. Joseph | IR |
| Delmont, Mike | 51A | Lexington | DFL |
| Dempsey, Jerry | 29A | Hastings | IR |
| Dorn, John | 24A | Mankato | DFL |
| Entenza, Matt | 64A | St. Paul | DFL |
| Erhardt, Ron | 42A | Edina | IR |
| Farrell, Jim | 67A | St. Paul | DFL |
| Finseth, Tim | 01B | Angus | IR |
| Frerichs, Don | 31A | Rochester | IR |
| Garcia, Edwina | 63B | Richfield | DFL |
| Girard, Jim | 21A | Lynd | IR |
| Goodno, Kevin | 09A | Moorhead | IR |
| Greenfield, Lee | 62A | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Greiling, Mindy | 54B | Roseville | DFL |
| Gunther, Bob | 26A | Fairmont | IR |
| Haas, Bill | 48A | Champlin | IR |
| Hackbarth, Tom | 50A | Cedar | IR |
| Harder, Elaine | 22B | Jackson | IR |
| Hasskamp, Kris | 12A | Crosby | DFL |
| Hausman, Alice | 66B | St. Paul | DFL |
| Holsten, Mark | 56A | Stillwater | IR |
| Hugoson, Gene | 26A | Granada | IR |
| Huntley, Thomas | 06B | Duluth | DFL |
| Jacobs, Joel | 49B | Coon Rapids | DFL |
| Jaros, Mike | 07B | Duluth | DFL |
| Jefferson, Jeff | 58B | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Jennings, Loren Geo | 18B | Harris | DFL |
| Johnson, Alice | 48B | Spring Lake Park | DFL |
| Johnson, Bob | 04A | Bemidji | DFL |
| Johnson, Virgil | 32B | Caledonia | IR |
| Kahn, Phyllis | 59B | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Kalis, Henry | 26B | Walters | DFL |
| Kelley, Steve | 44A | Hopkins | DFL |
| Kelso, Becky | 35B | Shakopee | DFL |
| Kinkel, Tony | 04B | Park Rapids | DFL |
| Knight, Kevin | 40B | Bloomington | IR |
| Knoblach, Jim | 16B | St. Cloud | IR |
| Koppendrayer, LeRoy | 17A | Princeton | IR |
| Kraus, Ron | 27A | Albert Lea | IR |
| Krinkie, Philip | 53A | Shoreview | IR |
| Larsen, Peg | 56B | Lakeland | IR |
| Leighton, Rob | 27B | Austin | DFL |
| Leppik, Peggy | 45B | Golden Valley | IR |
| Lieder, Bernard | 02A | Crookston | DFL |
| Limmer, Warren | 33B | Maple Grove | IR |
| Lindner, Arlon | 33A | Corcoran | IR |
| Long, Dee | 60A | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Lourey, Becky | 08B | Kerrick | DFL |
| Luther, Darlene | 47A | Brooklyn Park | DFL |
| Lynch, Teresa | 50B | Andover | IR |
| Macklin, Bill | 37B | Lakeville | IR |
| Mahon, Mark | 40A | Bloomington | DFL |
| Mares, Harry | 55A | White Bear Lake | IR |
| Mariani, Carlos | 65B | St. Paul | DFL |
| Marko, Sharon | 57B | Newport | DFL |
| McCollum, Betty | 55B | North St. Paul | DFL |
| McElroy, Dan | 36B | Burnsville | IR |
| McGuire, Mary Jo | 54A | Falcon Heights | DFL |
| Milbert, Bob | 39B | South St. Paul | DFL |
| Molnau, Carol | 35A | Chaska | IR |
| Mulder, Richard | 21B | Ivanhoe | IR |
| Munger, Willard | 07A | Duluth | DFL |
| Murphy, Mary | 08A | Hermantown | DFL |
| Ness, Bob | 20A | Dassel | IR |
| Olson, Edgar | 02B | Fosston | DFL |
| Olson, Mark | 19A | Big Lake | IR |
| Onnen, Tony | 20B | Cokato | IR |
| Opatz, Joe | 16A | St. Cloud | DFL |
| Orenstein, Howard | 64B | St. Paul | DFL |
| Orfield, Myron | 60B | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Osskopp, Mike | 29B | Lake City | IR |
| Osthoff, Tom | 66A | St. Paul | DFL |
| Ostrom, Don | 24B | St. Peter | DFL |
| Otremba, Ken | 11B | Long Prairie | DFL |
| Ozment, Dennis | 37A | Rosemount | IR |
| Paulsen, Erik | 42B | Eden Prairie | IR |
| Pawlenty, Tim | 38B | Eagan | IR |
| Pellow, Dick | 52B | New Brighton | IR |
| Pelowski, Gene | 32A | Winona | DFL |
| Perlt, Walt | 57A | Woodbury | DFL |
| Petersen, Doug | 13B | Madison | DFL |
| Pugh, Tom | 39A | South St. Paul | DFL |
| Rest, Ann | 46A | New Hope | DFL |
| Rhodes, Jim | 44B | St. Louis Park | IR |
| Rice, Jim | 58A | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Rostberg, Jim | 18A | Isanti | IR |
| Rukavina, Tom | 05A | Virginia | DFL |
| Sarna, John | 59A | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Schumacher, Leslie | 17B | Princeton | DFL |
| Seagren, Alice | 41B | Bloomington | IR |
| Simoneau, Wayne | 52A | Fridley | DFL |
| Skoglund, Wes | 62B | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Smith, Steve | 34A | Mound | IR |
| Solberg, Loren | 03B | Bovey | DFL |
| Stanek, Rich | 33B | Maple Grove | IR |
| Sviggum, Steve | 28B | Kenyon | IR |
| Swenson, Doug | 51B | Forest Lake | IR |
| Swenson, Howard | 23B | Nicollet | IR |
| Sykora, Barb | 43B | Excelsior | IR |
| Tomassoni, Dave | 05B | Chisholm | DFL |
| Tompkins, Eileen | 36A | Apple Valley | IR |
| Trimble, Steve | 67B | St. Paul | DFL |
| Tuma, John | 25A | Northfield | IR |
| Tunheim, Jim | 01A | Kennedy | DFL |
| Van Dellen, H. Todd | 34B | Plymouth | IR |
| Van Engen, Tom | 15A | Spicer | IR |
| Vickerman, Barb | 23A | Redwood Falls | IR |
| Wagenius, Jean | 63A | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Warkentin, E.H. | 49B | Coon Rapids | IR |
| Weaver, Charlie | 49A | Anoka | IR |
| Wejcman, Linda | 61B | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Wenzel, Steve | 12B | Little Falls | DFL |
| Winter, Ted | 22A | Fulda | DFL |
| Wolf, Ken | 41B | Burnsville | IR |
| Worke, Gary | 28A | Waseca | IR |
| Workman, Tom | 43A | Chanhassen | IR |

## Membership changes
### Senate

| District | Vacated by | Reason for change | Successor | Date successor seated |
| 33 | Pat McGowan (IR) | Became Sheriff of Hennepin County on January 3, 1995, pursuant to having won the 1994 election for that office. | Warren Limmer (IR) | February 13, 1995 |
| 14 | Joe Bertram (DFL) | Resigned on January 9, 1996, as the Senate considered expelling him. | Michelle Fischbach (R) | February 12, 1996 |
| 4 | Skip Finn (DFL) | Resigned July 1, 1996, after being convicted of 12 felonies. | Remained vacant | Remained vacant |

### House of Representatives

| District | Vacated by | Reason for change | Successor | Date successor seated |
| 33B | Warren Limmer (IR) | Resigned February 13, 1995, to fill Pat McGowan's vacated seat in the Senate, pursuant to the results of a special election held on February 2, 1995. | Rich Stanek (IR) | February 13, 1995 |
| 49B | Joel Jacobs (DFL) | Resigned March 5, 1995, to accept appointment to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. | E.H. Warkentin (IR) | April 10, 1995 |
| 52A | Wayne Simoneau (DFL) | Resigned June 18, 1995, to accept appointment as a deputy commissioner in the Minnesota Department of Employee Relations. | Skip Carlson (IR) | July 11, 1995 |
| 26A | Gene Hugoson (IR) | Resigned June 30, 1995, to accept appointment as the Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture. | Bob Gunther (IR) | August 1, 1995 |
| 58A | Jim Rice (DFL) | Died of an apparent heart attack on October 15, 1996. | Remained vacant | Remained vacant |