SESSION WEEKLY A NON-PARTISAN PUBLICATION OF THE MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 6, 1995 VOLUME 12, NUMBER 1 WEEK IN REVIEW. . . JAN. 3 - 5, 1995 HIGHLIGHTS Speaker stresses efficient, fat-free government The opening of the 79th Session of the Minnesota Legislature began Jan. 3 with little fanfare, the first shouts of protesters from the Capitol rotunda, and the first round of partisan politics. After the House's 134 members took the oath of office, they elected Rep. Irv Anderson (DFL-Int'l Falls) speaker by a 70-to-63 margin over Minority Leader Steve Sviggum (IR-Kenyon). Rep. Mindy Greiling (DFL- Roseville) abstained from voting. In his acceptance speech, Anderson spoke of bipartisanship and the need to listen to voters and cut government waste. "I want us to build a budget that stresses efficiency and the elimination of waste so no one can say there is fat in Minnesota government," Anderson said. In an effort to demonstrate his desire "to open the windows and let a fresh breeze replace the stale stagnation of partisan posturing," Anderson announced the appointment of Rep. Teresa Lynch (IR-Andover) as vice chair of the powerful House Rules and Legislative Administration Committee. Anderson's remarks were sometimes drowned out by shouts from welfare reform protesters one floor below in the Capitol rotunda. The demonstrators, carrying signs such as "Save our children. No more cuts," were evidence of the budget tug-of-war ahead this session. The first round of partisan politics occurred when IRs scolded the DFL majority for increasing the number of committees and divisions to 37 -- up from 30 during the 1994 session. "At the very least we're misreading the people of Minnesota," Sviggum said, adding that citizens want less government, not more. Majority Leader Phil Carruthers (DFL-Brooklyn Center) countered by saying: "This is an attempt to open up the process." He explained that with more committees the House can distribute power so that even younger members of the body can hold committee leadership positions. Each of the six first-term DFL lawmakers holds a vice-chair position in the new House committee structure. This marks Anderson's second session as speaker. He served as speaker-designate in the fall of 1993, and was elected speaker for the 1994 session. The 71-year- old was first elected to the House in 1964. He served as majority leader from 1973 to 1978 and left the House in 1982. He returned in 1990 and, in 1993, served about six months as majority leader before becoming speaker- elect. LEGISLATURE, GOVERNOR, SEEK WELFARE SYSTEM REFORM It's been about 10 years since the House and Senate have agreed on what the top bill should be during a legislative session. And this year, it appears that even the governor's office agrees. The first bill introduced in both the House and Senate during the 1995-1996 Legislative Session seeks to reform Minnesota's welfare system. Another welfare reform bill, initiated by Independent-Republicans and Gov. Arne Carlson, also has been introduced in the House. The 1983-1984 session marked the last time the House and Senate agreed on what should be House File 1 and Senate File 1. Back then, both bodies agreed that a proposed Equal Rights Amendment to the state Constitution should be blessed with number one status. The House File 1 designation is usually given to a piece of legislation that the House leadership deems important. At the start of a session, House members jockey for the position. "I've never had a House File 1 before," said Rep. Bob Anderson (DFL-Ottertail), chief sponsor of the welfare reform bill. The importance House leadership has given the bill by assigning it House File 1 "reflects the mood of the electorate in the 1994 elections," said Anderson, who chairs the House Health and Human Services Committee. Rep. Kevin Goodno (IR-Moorhead) is carrying the Independent-Republican and governor-backed welfare reform bill as House File 15. "I don't think this would have happened four years ago," said Goodno referring to the House, Senate, and governor's office pursuing the same top priority. He said there are differences among all three bills but many similarities. "I'm very optimistic," said Goodno, adding he is not too distraught about his welfare reform bill not receiving the coveted House File 1 designation. The power to designate a bill as number one rests with the DFL leadership. "It is always a hope, but we're in touch with reality around here." Anderson's House File 1 appropriates $8 million for welfare reform which includes $5.6 million to help low- to moderate-income parents subsidize child care costs, thus removing a barrier to their going to work. House File 1 calls for the establishment of several programs to encourage welfare recipients to find work and requires all welfare recipients to participate in a state jobs-training program or lose their benefits. Individuals on public assistance for the first time would receive job training, subsidized jobs, medical care, and child support enforcement instead of standard AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) benefits. The bill also would require pregnant minors to live at home and would eliminate federal rules that some argue discourage welfare recipients from finding work. --K. Darcy Hanzlik House File 1 topics set legislative tone Here's a list of House File 1's introduced during the past several legislative sessions: 78th Session (1993-94): eliminated several committee references in law, reflecting a marked change in the way finance committees were structured. That year the number of House committees decreased from 35 to 29. 77th Session (1991-1992): called for wetlands preservation areas and a program to prioritize wetlands. 76th Session (1989-1990): allowed six-member juries in non-felony cases. 75th Session (1987-1988): extended and financed the farm mediation and interest rate buy down programs. 74th Session (1985-1986): established the procedure to merge the cities of International Falls and South International Falls. 73rd Session (1983-1984): called for a Minnesota Equal Rights Amendment to the state Constitution. 72nd Session (1981-1982): called for payment of state school aid money that was not paid in fiscal year 1981 because of the governor's spending cuts. First Territorial Legislature (1849): called for regulating grocery licenses. SPEAKER ANDERSON AIMS TO STREAMLINE GOVERNMENT House Speaker Irv Anderson (DFL-Int'l Falls) in December announced a new House committee system designed to promote government efficiency and to improve legislative oversight of state agency spending. There are now 37 standing committees and divisions in the House, up from 30 in the 1994 session. Anderson stressed that no additional staff would be hired. During the 1991-92 biennium, there were 35 committees and divisions. The 1993 session began with 29 committees and divisions appointed by then-Speaker Dee Long (DFL- Mpls). Throughout history, the number of committees has remained fairly constant, although there have been some ups and downs. In 1927, for example, there were 36 committees. Many of the issues the new committees and divisions will address formerly were handled by House subcommittees. A division is a formal sub-unit of a full committee. Divisions meet regularly and have specific duties such as drafting finance bills in contrast to the temporary subcommittees that committee chairs sometimes appoint. Member assignments for the 1995 session will reflect the ongoing policy of having each member serve on at least one finance or tax committee. New committees and divisions under the plan include: -- the Government Efficiency and Oversight Division of the Ways and Means Committee, designed to promote government reform and create legislation to downsize state departments and agencies; -- the Property Tax and TIF Division and the Sales and Income Tax Division of the Taxes Committee. (These issues were addressed primarily in the Property Tax and State Tax subcommittees during the 1994 session); -- the Business Regulation Division of the Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee; -- the Transportation Finance Division of the Economic Development, Infrastructure and Regulation Finance Committee. (Transportation funding previously was determined by the full Economic Development, Infrastructure and Regulation Finance Committee); -- the MinnesotaCare Division of the Health and Human Services Committee. (Issues relating to the MinnesotaCare program were formerly addressed primarily by the Health and Human Services Finance Division of the Health and Human Services Committee; -- the University of Minnesota Finance Division of the Education Committee. (U of M funding issues formerly were addressed primarily by the Higher Education Finance Division); -- the Gambling Division of the Governmental Operations Committee. (Gambling issues were addressed primarily in the Gambling Subcommittee of the former Governmental Operations and Gambling Committee); -- the Elections Division of the General Legislation, Veterans Affairs & Elections Committee. (Elections issues were previously determined primarily by the full General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Elections Committee); and -- the International Trade and Tourism Committee. (These issues were previously addressed by subcommittees of the former Commerce and Economic Development Committee). Gone from last year's committee roster is the Health and Housing Finance Division of the Health and Human Services Committee. The Claims Committee, previously a joint subcommittee under the Legislative Coordinating Commission, now has full committee status. The Judiciary Finance Committee, formerly a division of the Judiciary Committee, also holds full committee status. The former Public Access Committee has also been eliminated. The Commerce and Economic Development Committee is now the Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee "to better redefine its purpose and area of responsibility," Anderson said. Anderson said the new structure will highlight the issues that seem most in need of attention and promote greater openness in the process by making it "more understandable and easier for the average citizen to follow." 1995 HOUSE PROFILE: MORE BUSINESS PEOPLE, MORE IRs MARK 79TH SESSION The 79th Session of the Minnesota Legislature began Jan. 3 with 27 newly elected members and a gain of 13 House seats for the Independent-Republican Party (IR). But the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) still holds a 71-63 majority -- down from its 84-50 advantage in 1994. For the first time since 1987, the number of women members has actually decreased from the prior session. Thirty-two women now serve in the House, down from 34 in 1993. (A total of 35 women were actually elected in 1992, but former Rep. Gloria Segal resigned in December before the session began, bringing the total to 34. A year later in December of 1993, Rep. Kathleen Blatz resigned and the number of women dropped to 33 in the 1994 session.) And perhaps because of the significant electoral gains by the Independent-Republicans, the number of members who listed business as their primary occupation dramatically increased. Business and educator are now tied for first place among member occupations, with 20 lawmakers each. Although educator was the top occupation in 1993, business was only the fifth most common occupation (14) then. Of the 20 members who listed business as their primary occupation, 15 are IRs and five are DFLers. Of the 20 members who listed educator as their primary occupation, 15 are DFLers and five are IRs. But while business made gains as a leading occupation among members, the number of farmers in the House continued its downward slide. The Legislature convened with the fewest number of farmers in state history, breaking last session's low mark. Members listing farming as their primary occupation slipped to 14 -- down from 16 in 1993. That makes farming the fifth most common occupation in the House, down from third two years ago. As recently as 1991, farming was tied for the most common occupation in the House with 20 members. This downward trend seems to mirror agricultural statistics compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau which show that the number of farms nationwide are at their lowest number since before the Civil War. While the number of full-time legislators increased to 19 members -- up from 17 in 1993 -- the occupation remained in second place among members. And of those 19 members, 17 are DFLers and two are IRs. In third place this year are attorneys with 18 members -- up from 16 in 1993 -- when the occupation was tied for third. There are actually 20 House members who have graduated from law school, but two list full- time legislator as their primary occupation. While the top five -- business, educator, legislator, attorney, and farmer -- changed places, they remain quite a distance from sixth place, now held by consultants (6). Lawmakers truly do come from all walks of life. Free-lance artist, physician, fire captain, and custom picture framer were among other diverse occupations listed. The educational level of members continues its upward trend, with 37 members holding a graduate degree. That's up from 32 in 1993, and 29 in 1991. Those with some college increased to 24, up from 20 in 1993. The number of members holding a four-year undergraduate degree dipped to 41, down from 47 in 1993. But that's still significantly higher than the 31 members with a four-year degree in 1989. The number of those holding a technical college degree increased to 11, up from six in 1993. Currently, the largest class of lawmakers is composed of the 29 beginning their second term; 19 of the second-termers are IRs and 10 are DFLers. The next largest class is the 26 newly elected members who have never served in the Legislature; 20 of them are IRs and six are DFLers. Ranking third in size are those members entering their fifth term with 20 members. Eighteen of the 20 are DFLers and two are IRs. At 47.9*, the average age of House members continues to rise. Since 1975, when the average stood at 40.8 years, the age has steadily increased to its present level. In 1993, the average age was 47.7 years; in 1991, 47.1. In 1975, half the House members were no older than 38. Today, 103 members are over 40. Currently, the youngest House member is 28, and the oldest is 83. -- John Tschida * Average age is based on 129 members where exact birthdate information was available. PELLOW EMERGES AFTER REPRIEVE; RETURNS FOR THIRD TERM A lot full of mangled and misfit automobiles may be an odd place to uncover an interest in politics. But out from under the heaps of metal arose Rep. Dick Pellow's lawmaking aspirations. Pellow's childhood dreams never entailed wearing a tie, shaking hands on a campaign trail, or sitting through long debates on the House floor. Thoughts of fast cars, greasy engines, and socket wrenches filled his head. "I was a greaser, a car nut. Growing up, I ate and slept cars," he said. At the age of 15, he repaired and painted his first car, a 1936 Ford four-door. Today, Pellow has plenty of ties, lots of opinions about government, a desk on the House floor, literally tons of automobiles, and 20 antique cars. The 63-year-old Independent-Republican from New Brighton realized his youthful wish. He owns an auto broker company that sells wrecked cars to salvage yards and another company that buys, sells, and repairs tow trucks. But what he didn't know when he entered the auto broker business was that it would eventually lead him to the Capitol in St. Paul. "I saw what government was doing to business," he said. "The taxes, the over regulation, the bureaucracy. I wanted to get involved." In the early days, Pellow called himself a "typical businessman in politics." He started out working on campaigns for fellow Republicans such as former Rep. Tony Bennett's run for a House seat in the late 1960s. Pellow, who was raised in a DFL/union worker household, was Bennett's yard sign chairperson. "I never had time to run myself and make the commitment. I had my family and the business. But I knew that I couldn't change zip without becoming a lawmaker. You gotta come down here where the action is," said Pellow, who represented the New Brighton area (just north of St. Paul) from 1988 to 1992. He lost a re- election bid in 1992 only to come back again in 1994. Pellow said he plans to continue where he left off in 1992. "I want to cut as much bureaucracy as we can cut. Get government out of people's business and downsize the bureaucracy . . . Businesses have to hire accountants and bookkeepers just to keep track of the new government regulations." He'd like to cut the Metropolitan Council and its 17 council members which plan and coordinate the development of airports, parks, roads, and other regional issues for the seven-county metropolitan area. The council's authority encompasses 100 cities and the council has a staff of about 150 employees. Pellow said he'd like to have the metro area cities each have a volunteer representative on a regional planning board and use that board to make decisions and share resources. Pellow said government gets involved where it shouldn't and wastes money. Two examples of that, he said, are the traffic lights on freeway ramps and the Minnesota Department of Transportation's Highway Helper Program, which is designed to help motorists who are stranded on the highway. He said he also plans to reintroduce a bill that would cut the earnings of county commissioners in the state to match those of legislators. In 1994, state lawmakers earned $27,979. Hennepin County commissioners will earn about $69,000 a year in 1995; Ramsey County commissioners, about $41,000. In addition to those issues, Pellow said he would also like to focus on two long-time IR priorities: cutting workers' compensation rates and lowering commercial and industrial property taxes. With only eight members making up the difference between the majority (DFL) party and the minority (IR) party in the House, Pellow thinks the IRs have a good shot at getting their agenda to the House floor. -- K. Darcy Hanzlik 52B DISTRICT PROFILE Population: 32,877 Distribution: 100 percent in urban areas County: Ramsey Largest city: New Brighton Location: north Metro Unemployment rate: 4.15 percent Residents living below poverty level: 6.57 percent 1992 presidential election results: Bush/Quayle 31.98 percent Clinton/Gore 44.20 percent Perot/Stockdale 22.84 percent Other: 0.98 percent FORMER IR PARTY CHAIR SYKORA TAKES SEAT IN HOUSE CHAMBER During her education at St. Paul's College of St. Catherine, Rep. Barb Sykora used to take a break some days and travel across town to watch her father at work. She'd climb the State Capitol steps, head over to the Senate floor, and peer over the railing of the public gallery to watch Sen. John Zwach, then Senate majority leader (and later a U.S. representative from southwestern Minnesota). "I was awfully proud," Sykora said. She was studying to be a school teacher then and hadn't thought much about politics. Today, Zwach's daughter climbs the Capitol steps for a different reason -- to represent the people from western Hennepin County in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Sykora, an Independent-Republican from Excelsior, isn't a new lawmaker in the traditional sense. She served as the state IR Party co-chair from 1987 to 1993. She recruited many of the IR lawmakers now in the Legislature to run for office, and she supported them during campaign trips and media swings around the state. As the state IR party co-chair, "you're support service," Sykora said. Your top priorities are to train volunteers, recruit candidates, and win elections. As a lawmaker, she believes she will have more of a direct impact in changing state policy and be able to help her constituents more. "I'm not as partisan as you'd think a former state party chair would be . . . I'd prefer to be a statesman. My motivation is for the next generation," said Sykora, 53, who most recently served as district director for former U.S. Rep. Rod Grams, now a U.S. senator. "I've been tested under some stressful situations," Sykora said. During her tenure with the state party she had to help clean up a major budget deficit within the party's accounts and help handle Sen. Dave Durenberger's ethical issues. But, she said, she knows she still has a lot to learn as a first-term lawmaker. Sykora did try to use her knowledge and experience to gain an assistant minority leader's spot this session. She gave veteran IR lawmakers a run for their money when she lasted until the seventh ballot before dropping out of the race. She was encouraged to run for office in 1994 after Rep. Jerry Knickerbocker (IR-Minnetonka) announced he was retiring. "I had a strong interest in public policy and felt I could represent my community well," she said. Sykora had four children to raise and lived in a district with strong incumbents who were difficult to challenge. She did try unsuccessfully to challenge then U.S. Rep. Gerry Sikorski for the sixth district congressional seat in 1986. Portions of her legislative agenda directly stem from her children and their generation. She sees how difficult it is for young adults today to find good jobs and hopes she can provide help by improving Minnesota's business climate. Education funding reform also is a part of her agenda. Minnesota's property tax system is based on a false premise that higher property value implies a greater level of income, she said. As a result, many metropolitan homeowners, especially seniors, are taxed out of their homes. Sykora says money goes further in rural areas. The cost of living in a particular district should be included in the education funding formula. Like many from her large Independent-Republican first-term class, Sykora said she also hopes to help reform the state's welfare and workers' compensation systems. "There are lots of problems government can't solve," she said. "As citizens, we need to re-create an atmosphere that turns to the communities and individuals to solve problems rather than the government." -- K. Darcy Hanzlik 4 3B DISTRICT PROFILE Population: 32,296 Distribution: 100 percent in urban areas County: Hennepin Largest city: Minnetonka Location: west Metro Unemployment rate: 3.86 percent Residents living below poverty level: 2.08 percent 1992 presidential election results: Bush/Quayle 39.79 percent Clinton/Gore 35.27 percent Perot/Stockdale 24.08 percent Other: 0.86 percent NOTES Finding a vacant public parking space near the State Capitol during a legislative session usually requires strategy, cunning, and a competitive edge. Rep. Phyllis Kahn (DFL-Mpls), however, has an idea that may make finding a parking spot less of a blood sport. Kahn told fellow House members Jan. 5 that the public should have access to the most visible parking spaces around the Capitol, specifically, the dozens of spots directly in front of the steps to the Capitol's main entrance. There's just one problem -- the spaces are currently occupied by state senators. Kahn, who made the proposal just before the House approved a Senate resolution on parking for legislators and staff, said there is ample parking space for senators in lots near the Capitol such as the Judicial Center parking garage. "The problem is senators do not want to enter the Capitol by the back door," Kahn quipped. During an organizational meeting of the House Transportation and Transit Committee Jan. 4, Rep. Jim Tunheim (DFL-Kennedy), committee chair, asked members to introduce themselves and say a few words about their home districts. Several members also expressed their pleasure at being named to the committee, which oversees policy issues related to state trunk highways, city streets, and town roads. "I was named to this committee . . . because of my name," said Rep. Jim Rhodes (IR-St. Louis Park). Moments after Rep. Irv Anderson was elected speaker, 10 seconds of tension filled the House chamber when his competition for the powerful post, Minority Leader Steve Sviggum, rose and asked to speak. Anderson, a DFLer from Int'l Falls, hesitated and began to move on to the next order of business, electing a House chief clerk. Sviggum, an Independent-Republican from Kenyon, invoking a point of personal privilege, again asked to be recognized. Anderson paused, looked at Sviggum, and began to say: "We're in the middle. . . ." He didn't get to finish. "I was just going to congratulate you, Mr. Speaker," Sviggum said. The speaker and all assembled laughed with some relief. It was the first day of the 1995 Legislative Session, too early for the first partisan battle to begin. That would come about five minutes later. ORIENTATION RETREAT FORMER STATE SENATOR URGES MORE INTEGRITY, LESS BACON A new member orientation retreat was held Nov. 30 - Dec. 2, 1994, at Riverwood Conference Center near Monticello, Minn. The purpose of the conference was to help 27 newly elected lawmakers make a smooth transition to the role of being a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. The program included guest speakers, panel discussions, legislative workshops, staff presentations, and social activities. Guest speakers included John Brandl, professor at the University of Minnesota's Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, whose message was based on 12 years of legislative experience -- eight as a Minnesota House member and four as a state senator. Speaking on the "Ethics and Responsibility of a Legislator," Brandl said that a legislator's first responsibility is to the people of the state. If you take care of only "your corner of the state," or if you "dance with them that brung 'ya," the public interest will not emerge. You can easily convince yourself that you're doing God's work by "bringing home the bacon," rather than using good judgment in seeing to it that the money is doing the job for the benefit of all, he said. Another responsibility is to "revive integrity," according to Brandl, who believes that there is a "link between private and public virtue." He warned the new lawmakers that politics can become a substitute for a normal life, and that it is easy to treat family members as appendages -- stamp lickers and door knockers. Brandl also discussed voting. He urged members to not back away from their stand on an issue because "you think you might lose your spot in the Legislature. Don't fall into the trap of not being able to imagine yourself doing anything else," he said. Other speakers included former U.S. Rep. Vin Weber, who talked about the role of government, and former U.S. Rep. Tim Penny, who discussed leadership style. Legislators also had a chance to "Meet the Press" by attending a session that featured Betty Wilson, former political writer for the Star Tribune; Karen Boros, freelance political writer; Eric Eskola, political reporter for WCCO Radio; and Dennis Stauffer, political reporter for KARE-11 News. Rep. Tom Pugh (DFL-South St. Paul), Rep. Hilda Bettermann (IR-Brandon), and former Rep. Peter Rodosovich co-chaired the event with the help of a committee made up of several House members and two staff facilitators. An earlier orientation program was held shortly after the general election on Nov. 10. First-termers spent three-and-one-half hours hearing overviews of the operation of the House and the legislative process. The program ended with a tour of the State Capitol and the State Office Building. (Meet the 27 newly elected 1995 House members on the next three pages.) CITIZENS CHAT WITH HOUSE MEMBERS AT 1994 STATE FAIR A total of 45 House members volunteered to greet the public and answer questions in the House booth at the 1994 Minnesota State Fair. The House exhibit in the Education Building attracted hundreds of fairgoers daily between Aug. 25 and Labor Day, Sept. 5. Visitors were able to chat with members or try their hand at several computer games. The quizzes tested knowledge of laws passed by the 1994 Legislature, the origins of Minnesota's 87 county names, and obscure historical tidbits from Minnesota's past. (Did you know Ignatius Donnelly, a flamboyant Minnesota politician from the late 1800s, authored a book which argued that the lost City of Atlantis really existed?) This marked the third consecutive year that the House and Senate operated their fair booths side by side. The arrangement allowed for greater cooperation and shared services between the two legislative bodies. More than 120 fairgoers on the House side took advantage of the option to leave written messages for their legislators. Most comments centered on health and human services concerns followed by those on government issues such as limiting terms and reducing the size of the Legislature. Education and crime areas tied for third place. Education comments included: "We need more mandated services for gifted and talented students in Minnesota" and "Only people with kids should pay for their education." Crime issues centered on gun control, the death penalty, and tougher sentencing. Nine respondents advocated reducing taxes. A few were concerned about transportation: "We would like to find out what the speed limit really is!" An environmentalist wrote: "Split Rock Lighthouse needs to have trees, etc. trimmed to see the lighthouse. Thanx." Other suggestions ranged from "Let's get rid of all gambling in Minnesota" to potty parity. "Look around this fair," one wrote. "Women stand in LONG LINES to use the bathrooms. Men do not. No real reason why three times the bathrooms could not be made available. It is a women's rights issue (and the building contractors of Minnesota would thank you, too)." The annual unofficial public opinion poll, prepared jointly by the House and Senate, was again popular with visitors. Roughly 8,000 fairgoers registered an opinion on taxes, gambling, welfare, health care, and other issues addressed by the poll. According to the poll results, a majority of Minnesotans are satisfied with their health care coverage and most don't support off-track betting on horses. (See complete results on next page.) RESULTS OF 1994 UNOFFICIAL PUBLIC OPINION POLL 1. Which statement best reflects your personal opinion regarding your own health care coverage? I am very satisfied: 3,909 47.6% I am somewhat satisfied: 2,858 34.8% I am not satisfied: 998 12.1% Currently, I do not have health care coverage: 451 5.5% 2. Prior to 1973 the Legislature met every other year. Since then the Legislature has met every year. Should the constitution be changed so that the Legislature meets only once every two years? (Special sessions could still be called as needed.) Yes: 3,704 44.9% No: 3,566 43.2% Undecided: 980 11.9% 3. Should the state provide financial assistance to a son or daughter who cares for an elderly parent in their own home? Yes: 4,575 55.5% No: 2,185 26.5% Undecided: 1,489 18.0% 4. Do you think unmarried minor parents (those under age 18) should be required to live at home with their own parents, or in another type of supervised setting, in order to receive AFDC benefits? Yes: 5,687 69.4% No: 1,684 20.5% Undecided: 829 10.1% 5. Should the state take an active role in preventing professional athletic teams from leaving Minnesota? Yes, if the cost to taxpayers is minimal: 2,639 31.7% Yes, regardless of the cost to taxpayers: 220 2.6% No: 5,076 60.9% Undecided: 397 4.8% 6. Do you support the compromise agreement reached by the Legislature allowing NSP to store up to 17 dry casks of spent nuclear fuel at the Prairie Island nuclear facility? Yes: 3,692 44.5% No: 3,387 40.9% Undecided: 1,209 14.6% 7. Should the Twin Cities metropolitan area have more restrictive gun control laws than the rest of Minnesota? Yes: 3,915 47.2% No: 4,013 48.4% Undecided: 368 4.4% 8. Would you support public funding of a community- based pregnancy prevention program based on sexual abstinence that is targeted at 12- through 14-year-olds? Yes: 5,673 68.7% No: 1,879 22.8% Undecided: 702 8.5% 9. If Minnesota voters approve off-track betting for horse racing this November, would you favor: Allowing any licensed bar or service club to have a betting booth: 1,431 17.7% Six or fewer large betting parlors across the state: 918 11.3% Regardless of what occurs, I don't support off-track betting: 4,740 58.6% Undecided: 1,000 12.4% 10. To reduce reliance on local property taxes for the funding of Minnesota's K-12 public schools, which of the following best reflects your sentiments? Income taxes should be increased: 1,128 14.2% Sales taxes should be increased: 1,370 17.3% Both income and sales taxes should be increased: 1,010 12.8% No, don't change the way schools are financed: 2,773 35.0% Undecided: 1,635 20.7% 11. Do you drink milk which may come from a cow injected with an FDA-approved growth hormone (BGH) designed to increase milk production? Yes, the use of BGH doesn't bother me: 2,272 28.1% No, I refuse to drink milk from cows injected with BGH: 2,279 28.2% I don't know if my milk might contain BGH: 3,086 38.1% Undecided: 457 5.6% DO YOU KNOW? The pledge of "no new taxes" has fallen from the lips of many politicians in recent years, but it's been quite a while since anyone has upheld a promise to put the brakes on state government spending. It happened in 1926 when Gov. Theodore Christianson, campaigning for re-election, promised that the amount of money spent by the 1927 Legislature would not exceed the amount allocated by the 1925 Legislature. No new programs, no inflationary increases were to be allowed. His reasoning? The state's income was fixed, much like one's personal income, and the state had to live within its means. "There is no good reason why the principle which pre-determines personal budgets should not pre- determine public budgets also," he said. Christianson was re-elected by a wide margin. In his 1927 State of the State address, Christianson said he considered his fiscal promise "an obligation as binding in honor as the most sacred of a man's covenants." In a speech that could have been written today, he said, "I am convinced, that under present conditions the voters do not want an increase -- that they cannot bear an increase -- in their tax burden. I feel that they expressed that conviction in their votes as definitely and emphatically as anything can be expressed in a popular election. Their decision has pre-determined the maximum of appropriations; for the total of appropriations cannot be increased without increasing the tax levy." And while many thought he was bluffing, including those in his own Republican party, Christianson kept his word. There were no tax increases, and the governor vetoed all bills calling for salary increases, along with several million dollars worth of other appropriations. The 1927 Legislature spent no more than the 1925 Legislature. There was no attempt to override the vetoes in either the House or the Senate. The people elected Christianson to a third two-year term as governor in 1928. He bested his closest opponent by a margin of nearly 3 to 1. IT'S A FACT Some current legislative issues are, as Yogi Berra once said, "like dŽja vu all over again." Burgeoning classrooms in Minnesota's elementary schools drew the attention of Minnesota lawmakers as early as 1974. HF3633 of that year would have required at least one teacher's aide for every first and second grade class having more than 20 pupils. The bill didn't pass, and at least one private organization, the Legislative Evaluation Assembly (LEA), thought it was a bad idea from the start. "Several comprehensive and exhaustive studies have recently shown that there is no correlation between class size and learning over a wide range of class sizes, " the LEA wrote in its 1974 Annual Report on Minnesota Legislation and Legislators. They added "there is little or no chance that this program would improve education." The LEA labeled the bill an 'education WPA,' in reference to Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Works Progress Administration, designed to improve the country's infrastructure and provide jobs during the Great Depression. "Because of the declining national birth rate, those trained as teachers but currently not employed in teaching, should convert to other career fields, not seek make-work jobs in the schools at taxpayers' expense," wrote the LEA. Lawmakers in recent years have wisely chosen to disagree with the LEA. Recognizing the importance of smaller class sizes, Minnesota lawmakers spent more than $100 million in 1993 (and an additional $8.7 million in 1994) to reduce class sizes by hiring new teachers. School districts had to use the funds to attain a 17:1 student-teacher ratio in grades K-1, and then in subsequent grades as the revenue was available. As for the LEA, their annual reports on the Legislature ended in 1974. IT'S A FACT A portrait of Abraham Lincoln hangs in the State Dining Hall of the White House. But that painting used to hang above the speaker's desk in the Minnesota House chamber. In 1864, President Lincoln sat for a portrait done by George P. Healy, an eminent artist of the time. A copy of the painting was given to Robert Todd Lincoln, and another to Elihu Washburn, an intimate friend of the president's. Robert Todd Lincoln said they were the finest likenesses of his father ever painted. The Washburn family later moved to Minnesota, and shortly after the existing State Capitol was completed in 1905, W.D. Washburn loaned the portrait to the state. It was placed above the speaker's desk, where it hung until 1932. At that time, heirs of the Washburns requested that the painting be sent to them in New York City. Later, Jacqueline Kennedy acquired the painting when she was redecorating the White House. But before relinquishing the original, the state commissioned Edward Brewer of St. Paul to paint a replica of the portrait. The copy is so exact that some say experts can't tell the difference between it and the original. Brewer's copy now hangs above the speaker's desk in the House chamber. Q & A Q. Who was the oldest member of the Minnesota House of Representatives? The youngest? A. The oldest Minnesota House member ever to have served is believed to have been 86-year-old Rep. John B. Hompe of Deer Creek in Otter Tail County. Hompe, a Civil War veteran who enlisted at the age of 16, served in the House during the 1889 session; in the Senate during the 1891 and 1893 sessions; and again in the House during the 1915 -1931 sessions. A farmer, Hompe immigrated from Amsterdam, Holland, to the United States in 1849. He was born Feb. 4, 1846, and died in 1937, according to records from the Legislative Reference Library and the Minnesota Legislative Manual. In 1891, he acted as president of the Senate due to the illness of then-Lt. Gov. G.S. Ives. A book on the 1927 Legislature said of Hompe: "He is still active and vigorous in both mind and body and is inclined to vote on the side of the plain common people." Although Hompe is believed to be the oldest person to have ever served in the House, Rep. Willard Munger (DFL-Duluth) is closing in on the record. Munger is now 83, but will be 84 later this month. The youngest House member ever is still in politics today. Tad Jude, a former Hennepin County commissioner, was elected to the Minnesota House as a DFLer from Mound at age 20 and sworn in at age 21. Today he is an Independent-Republican and recently ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Congress. He left the Minnesota House in 1982. Jude just missed being disqualified for the House when he was first elected in 1972. The Minnesota Constitution requires all House members to be 21 years old or older. Although Jude was 20 at the time of the November election, his birthday occurred in December, shortly before the January 1973 swearing in and session start date. BBILL INTRODUCTIONS Thursday, Jan. 5 HF1--Anderson, R. (DFL) Health & Human Services Welfare provisions reformed and modified, and money appropriated. HF2--Johnson, A. (DFL) Environment & Natural Resources Motor vehicle emission inspection requirements and fees modified. HF3--Skoglund (DFL) Judiciary DWI electronic alcohol monitoring test pilot program established, and money appropriated. HF4--Rukavina (DFL) General Legislation, Veterans Affairs & Elections St. Louis County required to establish a polling place in Makinen. HF5--Anderson, R. (DFL) Health & Human Services Welfare reform provisions modified, and money appropriated. HF6--Anderson, B. (IR) Transportation & Transit Betty Adkins bridge designated in Elk River on trunk highway Nos. 101 and 169 connecting Wright and Sherburne counties. HF7--Pawlenty (IR) Rules & Legislative Administration Term limits imposed on legislative, constitutional, and congressional offices, and constitutional amendment proposed. HF8--Onnen (IR) Taxes Fire truck collector vehicles allowed in lieu tax qualification. HF9--Pawlenty (IR) Rules & Legislative Administration Legislature to meet only in odd-numbered years, and constitutional amendment proposed. HF10--Lynch (IR) Rules & Legislative Administration Federal government memorialized to conform to the limits expressed by the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. HF11--Paulsen (IR) Rules & Legislative Administration Initiative and referendum implementation act adopted, and constitutional amendment proposed. HF12--Sviggum (IR) Rules & Legislative Administration Term limits imposed on legislative, constitutional, county, and other local offices, and constitutional amendment proposed. HF13--Anderson, B. (IR) Rules & Legislative Administration Appropriations not to exceed growth in state's personal income, and constitutional amendment proposed. HF14--Jaros (DFL) International Trade & Tourism Taiwan; United Nations urged to admit Republic of China on Taiwan as a full member. HF15--Goodno (IR) Health & Human Services Human services public assistance eligibility provisions modified, programs detailed and established, and money appropriated. HF16--Knight (IR) Environment & Natural Resources Motor vehicle emission control equipment inspection program abolished. HF17--Mares (IR) Education School district noncompliance with unfunded state program mandates authorized. HF18--Bettermann (IR) Labor-Management Relations Workers' compensation benefits and procedures modified, and penalties provided. HF19--Skoglund (DFL) Judiciary Armor-penetrating polymer ammunition importation, sale, possession, and manufacture banned. HF20--Kraus (IR) Rules & Legislative Administration Compensation Council public official salary recommendations effective only upon enactment into law. MINNESOTA INDEX MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: 1994 ELECTION DFL members 71 IR members 63 Number of men 102 Number of women 32 DFL women 19 IR women 13 Number of newly elected members 27 Newly elected IR members 21 Newly elected DFL members 6 Turnover rate (percentage of members who did not serve during the 1994 session) 20.1 Newly elected members who are men 19 women 8 Percent of incumbents who were re-elected, 1994 90.5 in 1992 90.9 Incumbents who lost 11 Number of those who were DFLers 11 Number of those who were first-term DFLers 8 Open seats 16 Uncontested House races, 1994 11 Number of those races where incumbent was an Independent-Republican 10 Percent of first-term members who are women 30 Percent of all members who are women 24 Average age of a House member, in years, 1994 47.9 in 1975 40.8 Current members who have attended the University of Minnesota 45 Votes cast in the 1994 general election 1,794,618 Percent of all votes cast by absentee ballot 4.8 Number of suburban districts (those wholly within the seven-county metro area, but not including Minneapolis or St. Paul) 48 Suburban seats held by IRs 31 Urban districts (those wholly contained within Minneapolis or St. Paul) 19 Urban seats held by DFLers 19 Sources: Office of the Secretary of State, Minnesota House Public Information Office. Text compiled by the Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Office (612) 296-2146. *** Last update 1/30/95; 12:45 p.m. (jtt) Last review 1/30/95 (jtt) ***