SESSION WEEKLY A Nonpartisan Publication of the Minnesota House of Representatives ◆ January 10, 1997 ◆ Volume 14, Number 1 HF1-HF35 Session Weekly is a nonpartisan publication of the Minnesota House of SESSION WEEKLY Representatives Public Information Of- fice. During the 1997-98 Legislative Minnesota House of Representatives • January 10, 1997 • Volume 14, Number 1 Session, each issue reports daily House action between Thursdays of each week, lists bill introductions and upcoming committee meeting schedules, and pro- vides other information. The publication Welcome . is a service of the Minnesota House. No fee. Welcome to the 80th Session of the Minnesota Legislature. For the 14th consecutive year, the Session Weekly will bring you highlights of To subscribe, contact: committee and floor action from the Minnesota House of Representatives. Each Minnesota House of Representatives week of coverage begins and ends on Thursday afternoons. Public Information Office In each issue you also will find the committee schedule for the coming week. It 175 State Office Building contains all the information you will need to attend committee hearings, all of St. Paul, MN 55155-1298 which are open to the public. (612) 296-2146 or The section entitled “Bill Introductions” provides you with a continuing list of 1-800-657-3550 all the bills that are introduced in the House. Each entry includes the House File TTY (612) 296-9896 number, chief author’s name, the name of the committee to which it was first referred, and a brief description of the content of the bill. Director Early issues will carry a variety of informational articles about the Legislature LeClair G. Lambert and state government that will help you follow the legislative process. Other features will bring you insights into the history and “color” of the Legislature. Assistant Director/Editor We’ll introduce you to the newest members of the House, beginning this week Peg Hamerston with Reps. Torrey Westrom (R-Elbow Lake) and Marty Seifert (R-Marshall). We’ll also profile the House leadership team. This week’s issue features House Assistant Editors Speaker Phil Carruthers (DFL-Brooklyn Center). John T. Tschida K. Darcy Hanzlik Past subscribers may notice that the Session Weekly looks a little different this year. We’ve dropped the three-hole punch and made the cover more closely Art & Production Coordinator resemble a magazine, at no additional cost to state taxpayers. We continue to use Paul Battaglia soy ink and 100 percent recycled paper with 20 percent post-consumer content. Those with Internet connections will soon be able to view the Session Weekly on Writers the Legislature’s World Wide Web site (at URL: http://www.leg.state.mn.us), Steve Compton, Frank Gallagher, where a wealth of government information can now be found. Nick Healy, Celeste Riley We hope you like our legislative newsmagazine. Please contact us if you have any suggestions for improving the SessionWeekly, want answers to general ques- Photographers tions, or need further help in following the Legislature. The House Public Tom Olmscheid, Laura Phillips, Information Office is in Room 175 of the State Office Building and the phone Andrew Von Bank numbers are (612) 296-2146 or 1-800-657-3550. You can reach us by e-mail at [email protected]. Office Manager Toinette L. B. Bettis — The staff Staff Assistants Grant Martin, Nicole Thompson t e d i n o r n P INSIDE r r e c e Feature: Opening Day .................................................................................................3 y p c a l e d p Speaker of the House ..................................................................................................5 Session Weekly (ISSN 1049-8176) is pub- House Profile ..................................................................................................................6 lished weekly during the legislative session by the New Member Orientation..........................................................................................8 Minnesota House of Representatives Public In- formation Office, 100 Constitution Ave., St. New Members: Seifert, Westrom ...................................................................11, 12 Paul, MN 55155-1298. Second Class postage 1996 State Fair ............................................................................................................ 16 paid at St. Paul, MN, and at additional mailing House Standing Committee Schedule................................................................19 offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Session Weekly, Public Information Office, Bill Introductions (HF1 - HF35) .............................................................................. 21 Minnesota House of Representatives, 175 State Committee Schedule (Jan. 13 - 17).......................................................................22 Office Building, 100 Constitution Ave.,St. Paul, MN 55155-1298. On the cover: Newly elected House Speaker Phil Carruthers showed off his big desk on the House floor to his sons, Rory, left, and Alex, right. Carruthers was elected speaker Jan. 7, the first day of the 1997 Printed on recycled paper which is 100% recycled, Legislative Session, by a vote of 70-64. 20% post-consumer content. —Photo by Andrew Von Bank 2 SESSION WEEKLY / January 10, 1997 Week in Review . Jan. 7 - 9, 1997 Highlights 1997-98 Legislature . Gavel sounds on opening of 80th Legislative Session Even if there were no surprises at the open- mise and to listen. Rep. Willard Munger (DFL- ing of the 80th Legislative Session of the Duluth) lauded the new speaker’s record as Minnesota House of Representatives, the vi- majority leader, a position Carruthers held suals were top-notch. It’s only natural to for the past three sessions, and for under- juxtapose the scene with the way it looked a standing the “importance of uniting forces, hundred years ago, which allows the observer forgetting differences, and working for the to come face-to-face with tradition. All legis- benefit of all people of Minnesota.” lators promised to uphold the United States During his acceptance speech, Carruthers and Minnesota constitutions and to faith- acknowledged the new and returning mem- fully discharge the duties of their offices. bers of the House, his family, and the “out- Their families and friends looked on proudly standing service” to the people of Minnesota — for the most part. Various toddlers who by his predecessor, Rep. Irv Anderson (DFL- refused to acknowledge the solemnity of the Int’l Falls). He said he hoped to continue the occasion had to be escorted off the floor. excellent relationship he shares with Minor- As expected, Rep. Phil Carruthers, (DFL- ity Leader Sviggum. Carruthers noted that Brooklyn Center) was elected Speaker of the both political parties are strongly represented House by a 70-64 party-line vote. Minority in Minnesota government, which indicates Leader Steve Sviggum (R-Kenyon) collected they “both deserve to serve the state of Min- all 64 Republican votes. nesota.” In nominating speeches, supporters praised While Minnesota can feel proud of its Carruthers’ desire to put the interests of the record as a national leader in terms of its people of Minnesota above partisan politics; economy, standard of living, and educational his willingness to learn about districts out- system, the Legislature has to change its re- Rep. Tim Pawlenty holds his 6-month-old daughter, side his own; the energy he brings to the cent course in order to continue that tradi- Mara, as he scans some paperwork prior to the office; his history as a friend to education and tion, Carruthers said. “During the last ses- sounding of the gavel on the first day of the 1997 to rural Minnesota; his desire to reach out to sion, we got so wrapped up in partisan fight- Legislative Session. diverse groups; and his abilities to compro- ing, we forgot why the citizens sent us here,” he said. “The people of Minnesota expect us to use good judgment. We must remember the voters’ message regarding divided gov- ernment. They want us to work together, Democrats and Republicans.” While the opening ceremony may have seemed standard to some participants, it seemed very new to Marjoleim DeConinck, an 18-year-old exchange student from Bel- gium who came as a guest of Rep. Ann Rest (DFL-New Hope). “It’s so interesting to see how it all works. It’s very different from my expectations. I’ve never been so involved with politics in my life,” she said, adding that she suspects the process she witnessed in the Minnesota House of Representatives is very different from that in Belgium, with its par- liament and monarchy. Rep. Phyllis Kahn (DFL-Mpls), now en- tering her 13th term, also noted something new. “When I started in 1972, there were six Rep. Rob Leighton takes the oath of office as his wife, Shawn, and sister, Kristin, hold his twin sons Taylor, women — total — in both Houses. Today left, and Tanner, right, during opening day ceremonies of the 1997 Legislative Session. First-termer Rep. Joe women make up about a third of the House Mullery, right, is Leighton’s seatmate. January 10, 1997 / SESSION WEEKLY 3 members. You can clearly see the tenor has changed. That’s a big difference.” One floor below, in the Capitol Rotunda, about 100 people protested against anticipated cuts in welfare benefits, given the recent passage of federal legislation. Members of the Minnesota Welfare Rights Coalition held signs that read: “Workfare isn’t fair” and “No welfare cuts.” Just outside the House chamber