January 6, 1989 Volume6 Number 2 Minnesota House of Representatives Eight-year-old Melissa Krueger may be the youngest member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. She and her fatp.er, Rep. Rick Krueger (DFL-Staples), raise their hands during the swearing-in ceremony on the 76th Legislative Session's opening day. Looking elsewhere is Krueger's year-old daughter, Alisha. 7 6th Legislative Session --- lunch break between scheduled commit­ tee meetings. Speaker Robert E. V anasek (DFL­ Vanasek, in his second term as New Prague) rapped the gavel Jan. 3 to speaker, pledged to hear and work with begin the 76th Legislative Session of the all members, make use of all mem hers' Minnesota House of Representatives. talents, provide policy direction and During the largely ceremonial "enhance public respect for the legislative opening session, Secretary of State Joan process." Growe presided as Minnesota Supreme Fifteen new members took the oath Court Chief Justice Douglas Amdahl of office during the opening session. administered the oath of office to the Besides approving changes in members present as their families and committees' scopes, the membership also friends watched from the floor and the nominated and ~lected House administra­ galleries. tive officers. Representatives voted to change the time when the House meets, from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. The change allows for a Nothing herein is admissible as legal proof of legislative intent. 1989 House leaders ----- Majority Leader Schreiber, a Minnesota native, Rep. Ann Wynia (DFL-St. Paul) is a studied business at St. Cloud State Speaker of the House seven-term veteran of the House. She University. After serving as a member of Rep. Robert E. Vanasek (DFL-New chairs the Rules and Legislative Admini­ the Brooklyn Park City Council for five Prague) has served in the Legislature stration Committee and has served on years, Schreiber moved on to the Legisla­ since 1972. several other committees. ture. First elected to the House in 1972, Vanasek graduated from the Univer­ Wynia earned a B.A. in government he chaired the Taxes Committee when sity of Minnesota in 1967 with a B.A. in from the University of Texas and an Independent-Republicans controlled the political science. His interest in politics M.A. in political science from the House in 1985. led to his legislative career. University of Wisconsin. As an instruc­ Schreiber has received many honors Vanasek' s colleagues elected him tor in political science, she shares her for his dedication to the Legislature and assistant majority leader in 1978, 1980, knowledge of government with students his community, including the Excellence and 1982. In 1985, he received a Bush at North Hennepin Community College in County Government Award from the Fellowship to attend the John F. Kennedy in Brooklyn Park. In 1986, Hamline Association of Minnesota Counties. School of Government at Harvard University appointed her adjunct profes­ And Hennepin County named University where he earned an M.A. in sor of public affairs. She's also on the Schreiber, his wife Carol, and children Public Administration. He became executive committee for the Minnesota Rob and Wendy, Farm Family of the majority leader in 1986 and speaker of Center for Women in Government at Year in 1980. the House for the 1987 Special Session. Hamline. The Mi,nnesota VFW Ladies' Auxiliary The St. Paul Business and Profes­ Youth in government---- and Politics in Minnesota magazine sional Women's Organization named her named him "Legislator of the Year" in "Legislator of the Year" in 1982. In The YMCA Youth in Government 1987. addition, Wynia has received several program sets the stage for students to Vanasek's not only a seasoned other public service awards during her learn and experience how real govern­ legislator, he's also active in his commu­ years of service in the House. ment works. High school students from nity. In 1979 and 1984, the U.S. Jaycees around the state filled the Capitol Jan. 5, named him "Outstanding Young Ameri­ Minority Leader as they took on the roles of legislators, can." Many other organizations have When he's not working at the state judges, lobbyists and reporters. given Vanasek service awards, including Legislature, Rep. Bill Schreiber (IR­ They began preparing for their days the Minneapolis/St. Paul Archdiocese. Brooklyn Park) runs a potato growing and packaging business. (Jan. 5-8) at the Capitol last September. Eight hundred-fifty students, from grades eight to twelve, are participating in this year's program. Students join one of the House, Senate, Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Administrative Cabinet or the Executive Branch model groups. They spend weeks studying the functions of each branch of government. It ·all comes together during the weekend at the Capitol, the final performance of their roles. Here, young legislators present their bills to peers who, in turn, point out flaws and make recommendations. Youthful judges hear prosecution and defense lawyers in court cases. New to the program, eighth grade students work as pages and decide what they would like to do next year. Ambitious lobbyists converse with legislators. The model press corps plays their newscast tape every day on closed circuit television. The students close th~ir session Sunday, and then participate in a major cleanup of the Capitol. Secretary of State Joan Growe looks on as the Honorable Douglas K. Amdahl, Chief Justice, Minnesota Supreme Court, administers the oath of office to Rep. Robert E. Vanasek, Speaker of the House. 2 SESSION WEEKLY/January 6, 1989 Nonsmoking policy reported on a "much stronger" state with an unemployment rate of 4.5 percent, an Smoke-filled rooms and corridors increase of 450,000 jobs in six years, will be a vision of the past for the House sound fiscal management and a $550 of Representatives beginning in 1989. million dollar rainy-day fund. At a Jan. 4 meeting, the House Rules Perpich stressed job creation, the and Legislative Administration Commit­ central goal of his administration, in the tee adopted a resolution designating areas of education, research arid develop­ nearly all of the State Office Building as ment, the environment, and ta~ reform off-limits for smokers. Private offices and fiscal management. and the third floor lounge are the only Perpich proposed state-wide testing exceptions to the nonsmoking rule. for teachers in core curriculum areas of The resolution defines smoking to math, English, science and social studies include anyone who carries a lighted at the sixth and tenth grades to build a cigarette, cigar, or pipe, or uses any other stronger education system. "Choice, smoking materials, such as smokeless supported by testing," he said, "will cigarettes. create a marketplace for education that is Also included in the resolution, accountable and responsive to the House employees who participate in a individual needs of our students." stop-smoking program and who demon­ In research and development, strate that they haven't smoked for at Perpich wants the state to compete in the least a year can receive partial reimburse­ global economy with advances in bio­ ment for the program's cost. technology, supercomputers, natural The nonsmoking provisions apply resources, and agriculture. To balance a only to portions of the State Office robust economy, Perpich asked the Building that fall under House jurisdic­ Legislature to make nature conservancy a tion. priority in the 1989 Session, noting the need for water protection and interstate environmental cooperation. State of the State -111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 The governor called for budget restraints to protect Minnesotans against Gov. Rudy Perpich delivered his possible downturns in the economy. He seventh State of the State address in the also appealed to legislators to reform the House of Representatives Chamber at the tax system for a better business climate State Capitol Jan. 4. Speaking to a joint and to preserve and enhance jobs already session of the Legislature, the governor created. House and Senate members applaud the governor's parents after he introduced them during his State of the State address in the House Chamber Jan. 4. Twin Cities Regional Cable, Channel 6, will replay the entire event on Monday, Jan. 9 at 6:30 p.m. Following the address, the channel will run a taped version ofiegislators' responses. January 6, 1989/SESSION WEEKLY 3 Committee, Time, Room, Chair GENERAL LEGISLATION' Divisions AGRICULTURE VETERANS AFFAIRS & GAMING (usually meet when full committee does not Mon., 10 a.m ........................... Room S Tues., 12:30 p.m ................ Room SOOS meet) Wenzel .................................. 296-4247 Kostohryz .............................. 296-4936 APPROPRIATIONS APPROPRIATIONS Elections Division Agriculture, Transportation & Mon.-Thurs., 8 a.m .............. Room 200 Thurs., 12:30 p.m .......... Room SOON Semi-State Division Anderson, G .......................... 296-4228 Scheid ................................ 296-37Sl Mon.-Thurs., 8 a.m ........ Room 400S COMMERCE Gaming Division Rice .................................... 296-4262 Tues., Thurs., Thurs., 12:30 p.m ........... Room SOOS Education Division 10 a.m .......... Basement Hearing Room Quinn ................................. 296-2439 Mon.-Thurs., 8 a.m ....... Room 300N Sarna ..................................... 296-4219 GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS Carlson, L. ......................... 296-4255 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Mon.-Thurs., 8 a.m ................ Room 10 Health & Human