JANUARY 10, 2003 VOLUME 20, NUMBER 1 In this issue: THE 2003 LEGISLATURE CONVENES BUDGET DEFICIT ANNOUNCED, NEW MEMBER PROFILES HF1-HF48 ESSION S Weekly Session Weekly is a nonpartisan publication of Minnesota House of Repre- sentatives Public Information Services. During the 2003-2004 Legislative Session, each issue reports daily House action between Thursdays of each week, lists bill introductions and upcoming com- mittee meeting schedules, and provides other information. The publication is a service of the Minnesota House. No fee. CONTENTS To subscribe, contact: Minnesota House of Representatives IGHLIGHTS Public Information Services H 175 State Office Building Recreation • 5 Greater Minnesota • 5 Taxes • 6 St. Paul, MN 55155-1298 (651) 296-2146 or 1-800-657-3550 TTY (651) 296-9896 FEATURES Director Barry LaGrave At Issue: Budget — The November Forecast released by the Department of Finance projects the state will have a budget deficit of $4.2 billion by the end of Assistant Director fiscal year 2005. • 7 LeClair G. Lambert Editor/Assistant Director People — Speaker of the House Steve Sviggum was re-elected to that post by Michelle Kibiger House members on opening day, and three speakers pro tempore were also appointed. • 9 Assistant Editor Mike Cook People — Republican members of the House now have a 29-vote majority as a Art & Production Coordinator result of the 2002 election. • 10 Paul Battaglia People — The 43 new legislators received some lessons in how to be an effective Writers legislator at the biennial retreat for freshman members of the House. • 12 Miranda Bryant, David Maeda, Jeff Jones, Tom Lonergan People — Rep. Joe Hoppe (R-Chaska) brings a professional background in regu- Chief Photographer lated industries, transportation, and commerce to his first term in the House. • 17 Tom Olmscheid People — Rep. Morrie Lanning (R-Moorhead) now represents the district for- Photographers merly represented by Commissioner of Human Services Kevin Goodno, one of Andrew Von Bank, Kristine Larsen Lanning’s students at Concordia College. • 18 Office Manager Nicole Wood People — Rep. Cy Thao (DFL-St. Paul) turned his experience as an intern in the Minnesota Senate and former candidate for Minnesota House into a successful bid Staff Assistants for the House and is among 43 new members in 2003. • 19 Christy Novak, Joseph Rude Process — More than 7,000 fairgoers took the annual House of Representatives Session Weekly (ISSN 1049-8176) is published unofficial state fair poll. See the results. • 20 weekly during the legislative session by the Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services Office, 175 State Office Building, St. Paul, MN 55155-1298. Periodicals postage paid at St. Paul, MN, and at additional DEPARTMENTS/RESOURCES mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Session Weekly, Public Information Services, Minnesota House of Representatives, It’s a Fact: Deficit woes 4 Committee Schedule (Jan. 13-17) 25 175 State Office Building, St. Paul, Resources: 2003 House of Representatives Reflections: Every vote counts 27 MN 55155-1298. and Senate members 21 Minnesota Index: Bill Introductions (HF1 – HF48) 23 Minnesota House 2003 28 Printed on recycled paper which is 50% recycled, 30% post-consumer content. On the cover: Tim Johnson from the Chief Clerk’s Office added 43 new names to one of the voting boards in the House Chamber Jan. 3 in preparation of the opening of the 2003 legislative session. —Photo by: Tom Olmscheid 2 January 10, 2003 IRST READING F★ ★ ★ Leader in November, replacing Rep. Tom Pugh (DFL-South St. Paul). A warm welcome After ascending to the speaker’s chair by an Opening session a time for all members to celebrate with family, 81 to 51 vote, Sviggum spoke about a spirit of bipartisanship. He said differences between the friends before concentrating on balancing the state budget parties “are very tiny matters when compared to the strength that lies within us to be able to BY JEFF JONES swore in the 43 new and 90 returning mem- solve the problems and address the opportu- hough a projected budget shortfall bers of the House. Before doing so, Blatz re- nities that are before us.” Referring to the loomed large over Minnesota legislators called her own 15 years in the House and told upcoming budget debate, he said, “we know Tpreparing to be sworn in Jan. 7,neverthe- new members they will be making many last- there are going to be some tough choices to less, the opening session of the House of Rep- ing memories along the way. make, we have to make the choices to protect resentatives was filled with excitement and The House then set to work choosing offic- expectation. Spouses, children, and proud par- ers for the session. ents filled the House chamber to be part of a Rep. Alice Seagren (R-Bloomington) nomi- To our readers: day of ceremony and celebration for the 133 nated Rep. Steve Sviggum (R-Kenyon) to be Welcome to the 83rd Legislative Session of new and returning House members. The ses- Speaker of the House – the position he has held the Minnesota House of Representatives. The sion opened with the Land of Lakes Choirboys since Republicans took control of the cham- award-winning Session Weekly begins its 20th singing America the ber in 1999. Touting year of publication with this issue. Beautiful. Secretary of Sviggum’s “patience You may notice a few changes to the look of State Mary Kiffmeyer and persistence” Session Weekly, but the content will remain the same, and we will continue our dedication to called the 83rd Legis- through the last four providing nonpartisan information about the lative Session to order. years of tripartisan House in a timely and accurate manner. The House was one government, Seagren Primarily, we have changed the paper stock member short when the said, “I can think of in an effort to answer the ongoing budget session began because no finer man to be concerns affecting all areas of state government. While the legislators are working Rep. Dan McElroy (R- Speaker of the to cut the budget and reduce the projected Burnsville) resigned his House.” deficit, House of Representatives staff have seat Jan. 6 to become the Rep. Dan Dorman (R- been searching for ways to provide the same commissioner of the Albert Lea), who owns a level of service while trimming costs. state Department of tire business, seconded While this issue begins a new year for the Legislature and Session Weekly, we are bidding Finance. the nomination by com- a fond farewell to our permanent writer, David And the weather paring Sviggum’s leader- Maeda, who has been with House Public couldn’t have been more ship to a wheel weight. Information Services since October 1999. David cooperative for mem- “The wheel weight keeps has developed an expertise in covering tax bers and their families to that tire and wheel as- policy and finance issues, as well as both state travel from all corners of sembly going smoothly and local government concerns. David will be moving on to a position with the state. Of the seven down the road and that Hennepin County and we wish him well. Not state legislatures gaveled is what the speaker does only will we miss his writing and researching into session Jan. 7 – from for us, he keeps us on abilities, but his wit, perspective, and work Rhode Island to Missis- track and running ethic were a true asset to the office, and sippi – Minnesota’s en- smoothly because there’s ultimately Session Weekly readers. You may also notice more updates in Session joyed the warmest a lot of pulls and tugs Weekly regarding the Senate status of proposals temperature. The unsea- and vibrations that also traveling through the House. While our sonably warm weather could be caused.” writers will not be covering Senate hearings, reached 53 degrees in St. On the other side of we will provide short status updates as a service Paul by the close of the the aisle, Rep. Gene to readers. We know that many of you also read Senate Briefly, which will not be published first day’s session. Even Pelowski, Jr. (DFL- PHOTO BY ANDREW VON BANK in paper form this session. Jackson, Miss., saw a Rep. Steve Sviggum is sworn-in as Speaker of the Winona) nominated We hope you continue to enjoy Session high of only 49. House by Minnesota State Supreme Court Chief Rep. Matt Entenza Weekly and the easy-to-understand writing Amidst a flurry of Justice Kathleen Blatz during opening day (DFL-St. Paul) for the style we use. Your comments and suggestions camera flashes from ceremonies Jan. 7. speaker’s chair, a move are always welcome. Contact House Public media and family members, Minnesota State seconded by Rep. Alice Hausman (DFL-St. Paul). Information Services at (651) 296-2146 or 1-800-657-3550. Supreme Court Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz DFL members elected Entenza House Minority — MICHELLE KIBIGER Session Weekly 3 people, families, and taxpayers rather than protecting government.” The House also unanimously re-elected Ed- ward A. Burdick as its chief clerk, a job he has held for 37 years. Rep. Irv Anderson (DFL-Int’l Falls) said Burdick’s 62 years working for the House make him “more than an employee. He Deficit woes is the memory of this House.” 1992 task force studied budget process Though the first day’s session was largely following deficits in the early 1990s ceremonial and full of procedural roll-call Staggering budget deficits are not new • Increasing management flexibility, votes, friends and family in the chamber were to the State of Minnesota. In fact, five responsibility and accountability in bud- impressed. “It went a lot quicker than I thought shortfalls occurred during the 11 biennia geting, including contingency planning to it would,” said Tina Marie Lesch, wife of fresh- between 1980 and 2001.