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) Total Vacant DFL Ind IR End of previous Legislature 43 0 24 67 0 Begin 43 0 24 67 0 January 3, 1995 23 66 1 February 13, 1995 24 67 0 January 9, 1996 42 66 1 February 12, 1996 25 67 0 May 1996 41 1 July 1, 1996 40 66 1 Latest voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 42 1 24 67 0

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

House of Representatives District Vacated by Reason for change Successor Date successorseated 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

Notes

References

Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Session Search Results (Session 79, Senate) Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Session Search Results (Session 79, House)