The seventy-first Minnesota Legislature first convened in the U.S. state of Minnesota on January 3, 1979. The 67 members of the Minnesota Senate were elected during the General Election of November 2, 1976, and the 134 members of the Minnesota House of Representatives were elected during the General Election of November 7, 1978.

The seventy-first legislature is noteworthy for the partisan composition of the House of Representatives. Until Bob Pavlak was unseated for unfair campaign practices, the House was equally divided between the DFL and the Independent-Republicans. Due to the tie, the DFL and the Independent-Republicans were forced to forge a compromise by which the Independent-Republicans were to elect the Speaker from among their own ranks, while the DFL would be given the chairmanship of, and one-vote majorities on, the rules and tax committees. This agreement was superseded for the 1980 continuation of the regular session, by which time the DFL had gained a slim majority in the House.

Sessions The legislature met in a regular session from January 3, 1979, to May 24, 1979. A special session was convened on May 24, 1979, to consider three bills regarding workers' compensation, energy, and transportation appropriations.

A continuation of the regular session was held between January 22, 1980, and April 12, 1980. No special sessions were held in 1980. The legislature met for a total of 99 legislative days during the 1979-80 biennium.

Party summary Resignations and new members are discussed in the "Membership changes" section, below.

Senate Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Vacant DFL IR End of previous Legislature 47 20 67 0 Begin 47 20 67 0 April 25, 1979 46 66 1 July 9, 1979 47 67 0 August 1, 1979 46 66 1 November 12, 1979 47 67 0 November 26, 1979 46 66 1 January 16, 1980 21 67 0 January 20, 1980 45 66 1 February 28, 1980 22 67 0 May 1, 1980 44 66 1 July 1, 1980 21 65 2 Latest voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 45 22 67 0

House of Representatives Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Vacant DFL IR End of previous Legislature 99 35 134 0 Begin 67 67 134 0 May 18, 1979 67 66 133 1 June 26, 1979 68 134 0 December 5, 1979 67 133 1 January 22, 1980 68 134 0 June 1, 1980 67 133 1 Latest voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 70 64 134 0

Leadership Senate President of the Senate Edward J. Gearty (DFL-Minneapolis)

Senate Majority Leader Nick Coleman (DFL-St. Paul)

Senate Minority Leader Robert O. Ashbach (IR-St. Paul)

House of Representatives Speaker of the House 1979: Rod Searle (IR-Waseca) 1980: Fred C. Norton (DFL-St. Paul)

House Majority Leader 1979: Irv Anderson (DFL-International Falls) and Jerry Knickerbocker (IR-Minnetonka) 1980: Irv Anderson (DFL-International Falls)

House Minority Leader 1979: None 1980: Rod Searle (IR-Waseca)

Members Senate Name District City Party Anderson, Jerald C. 19 North Branch DFL Ashbach, Robert O. 48 St. Paul IR Bang, Otto T. 39 Edina IR Barrette, Emery G. 66 St. Paul IR Benedict, Robert M. 38 Bloomington DFL Bernhagen, John 22 Hutchinson IR Brataas, Nancy 33 Rochester IR Chenoweth, John C. 66 St. Paul DFL Chmielewski, Florian 14 Sturgeon Lake DFL Coleman, Nicholas D. 65 St. Paul DFL Davies, John T. 60 Minneapolis DFL Dieterich, Neil 62 St. Paul DFL Dunn, Robert G. 18 Princeton IR Engler, Steven 25 Randolph IR Frederick, Mel 32 West Concord IR Gearty, Edward J. 54 Minneapolis DFL Gunderson, Jerome O. 35 Mabel DFL Hanson, Marv 01 Hallock DFL Hughes, Jerome M. 50 Maplewood DFL Humphrey, Skip 44 New Hope DFL Jensen, Carl A. 28 Sleepy Eye IR Johnson, Doug 06 Tower DFL Keefe, John B. 40 Hopkins IR Keefe, Stephen 59 Minneapolis DFL Kirchner, William G. 37 Richfield IR Kleinbaum, Jack I. 17 St. Cloud DFL Knaak, Delores J. 49 White Bear Lake IR Knoll, Franklin J. 61 Minneapolis DFL Knutson, Howard A. 53 Burnsville IR Laufenburger, Roger A. 34 Lewiston DFL Lessard, Bob 03 International Falls DFL Lewis, B. Robert 41 Golden Valley DFL Luther, Bill 45 Brooklyn Park DFL McCutcheon, William W. 67 St. Paul DFL Menning, Mike 26 Edgerton DFL Merriam, Gene 47 Coon Rapids DFL Moe, Roger 02 Ada DFL Nelson, Tom A. 31 Austin DFL Nichols, James W. 20 Lake Benton DFL Ogdahl, Harmon T. 58 Minneapolis IR Olhoft, Wayne 11 Herman DFL Olson, Howard D. 27 St. James DFL Omann, Sr., Bernard P. 16 St. Joseph IR Penny, Tim 30 New Richland DFL Perpich, George F. 05 Chisholm DFL Peterson, Collin Clark 10 Detroit Lakes DFL Pillsbury, George Sturgis 42 Wayzata IR Purfeerst, Clarence 24 Faribault DFL Renneke, Earl 23 Le Sueur IR Rued, David E. 13 Aitkin IR Schaaf, David D. 46 Fridley DFL Schmitz, Robert J. 36 Jordan DFL Schrom, Ed 16 Albany DFL Setzepfandt, A. O.H. 21 Bird Island DFL Sieloff, Ron 63 St. Paul IR Sikorski, Gerry 51 Stillwater DFL Sillers, Douglas H. 09 Moorhead IR Solon, Sam 07 Duluth DFL Spear, Allan 57 Minneapolis DFL Staples, Emily Anne 43 Plymouth DFL Stern, Irving M. 41 St. Louis Park DFL Stokowski, Anne K. 55 Minneapolis DFL Stokowski, Eugene E. 55 Minneapolis DFL Strand, Roger Ernest 15 Cyrus DFL Stumpf, Jr., Peter P. 64 St. Paul DFL Tennessen, Robert J. 56 Minneapolis DFL Ueland, Arnulf 29 North Mankato IR Ulland, James E. 08 Duluth IR Vega, Conrad 52 South St. Paul DFL Wegener, Myrton O. 12 Bertha DFL Willet, Gerald 04 Park Rapids DFL

House of Representatives Name District City Party Aasness, Paul D. 11A Wendell IR Adams, Leo G. 44B New Hope DFL Ainley, Jr., John A. 04A Park Rapids IR Albrecht, Raymond John 23A Brownton IR Anderson, Bob 10B Ottertail IR Anderson, Bruce W. 26A Slayton DFL Anderson, Delbert F. 15A Starbuck IR Anderson, Glen H. 15B Bellingham DFL Anderson, Irvin N. 03A International Falls DFL Battaglia, David Peter 06B Two Harbors DFL Begich, Joseph 06A Eveleth DFL Berglin, Linda Lee 59A Minneapolis DFL Berkelman, Thomas R. 08B Duluth DFL Biersdorf, John S. 32A Owatonna IR Blatz, Kathleen 38A Bloomington IR Brinkman, Bernard J. 16B Richmond DFL Byrne, Margaret Mary 64B St. Paul DFL Carlson, Doug 14A Sandstone IR Carlson, Lyndon 44A Crystal DFL Casserly, James R. 56A Minneapolis DFL Clark, Janet H. 60A Minneapolis DFL Clawson, John T. 19A Center City DFL Corbid, John R. 01B Oklee DFL Crandall, William A. 61A Minneapolis IR Dean, William D. 58A Minneapolis IR Dempsey, Terry 28B New Ulm IR Den Ouden, Gaylin 21B Prinsburg IR Drew, John 63B St. Paul IR Eken, Willis 02B Twin Valley DFL Elioff, Dominic J. 05A Virginia DFL Ellingson, Robert L. 45B Brooklyn Center DFL Enebo, Stanley A. 60B Minneapolis DFL Erickson, Wendell O. 26B Hills IR Esau, Gilbert D. 28A Mountain Lake IR Evans, James 10A Detroit Lakes IR Ewald, Douglas R. 40A Minnetonka IR Faricy, Ray W. 63A St. Paul DFL Fjoslien, David O. 11B Brandon IR Forsythe, Mary 39A Edina IR Friedrich, Donald L. 32B Rochester IR Fritz, Michael D. 62B St. Paul IR Fudro, Stanley J. 55A Minneapolis DFL Greenfield, Lee 57B Minneapolis DFL Halberg, Chuck 53B Burnsville IR Haukoos, Bob 31A Albert Lea IR Heap, Jim 43B Robbinsdale IR Heinitz, Orlando Jacob 43A Plymouth IR Hoberg, Dwaine 09A Moorhead IR Hokanson, Shirley A. 37A Richfield DFL Jacobs, Joel 47A Coon Rapids DFL Jaros, Mike 07B Duluth DFL Jennings, David M. 27B Truman IR Johnson, Carl M. 23B St. Peter DFL Johnson, Dean 21A Willmar IR Jude, Tad 42A Mound DFL Kahn, Phyllis 57A Minneapolis DFL Kaley, John R. 33A Rochester IR Kalis, Henry 30A Walters DFL Kelly, Randy 66B St. Paul DFL Kempe, Raymond J. 53A West St. Paul DFL Knickerbocker, Jerry 40B Minnetonka IR Kostohryz, Dick 50B North St. Paul DFL Kroening, Carl W. 54A Minneapolis DFL Laidig, Gary 51A Stillwater IR Lehto, Arlene Ione 08A Duluth DFL Kvam, Adolph Leonard 22A Litchfield IR Levi, Connie 50A Dellwood IR Long, Dee 56B Minneapolis DFL Ludeman, Cal 20B Tracy IR Luknic, Marsha Johnson 24B Faribault IR Mann, George 27A Windom DFL McCarron, Paul 46A Spring Lake Park DFL McDonald, K. J. 36A Watertown IR McEachern, Bob 18B St. Michael DFL Mehrkens, Lyle 25B Red Wing IR Metzen, James P. 52A South St. Paul DFL Minne, Lona 05B Hibbing DFL Moe, Donald M. 65B St. Paul DFL Munger, Willard 07A Duluth DFL Murphy, Mary 14B Hermantown DFL Nelsen, Bruce G. 12A Staples IR Nelsen, Marlin B. 13B Aitkin DFL Nelson, Ken 59B Minneapolis DFL Niehaus, Sr., Joseph T. 16A Sauk Centre IR Norman, Jim 61B Minneapolis IR Norton, Fred C. 65A St. Paul DFL Novak, Steve 48A New Brighton DFL Nysether, Myron E. 01A Roseau IR Olsen, Sally 41A Saint Louis Park IR Onnen, Tony 22B Cokato IR Osthoff, C. Thomas 64A St. Paul DFL Otis, Todd 58B Minneapolis DFL Patton, Al W. 17A Sartell DFL Pavlak, Sr., Robert L. 67A St. Paul IR Pehler, James C. 17B St. Cloud DFL Peterson, Bill 38B Bloomington IR Peterson, Donna C. 60B Minneapolis DFL Piepho, Mark J. 29A Mankato IR Pleasant, Ray O. 39B Bloomington IR Prahl, Norman Rudolph 03B Grand Rapids DFL Redalen, Elton 35A Fountain IR Reding, Leo John 31B Austin DFL Rees, Tom 36B Elko IR Reif, Robert W. 49B White Bear Lake IR Rice, Jim 54B Minneapolis DFL Rodriguez, Frank J. 67A St. Paul DFL Rose, John 48B Roseville IR Rothenberg, Elliot C. 41B St. Louis Park IR Sarna, John 55B Minneapolis DFL Schreiber, Bill 45A Brooklyn Park IR Searle, Rodney Newell 30B Waseca IR Searles, Robert L. 42B Wayzata IR Sherwood, Glen A. 04B Pine River IR Sieben, Harry A. 52B Hastings DFL Sieben, Michael R. 51B Newport DFL Simoneau, Wayne 46B Fridley DFL Stadum, Tony 02A Ada IR Stoa, Tom 34B Winona DFL Stowell, Warren 34A Lewiston IR Sviggum, Steve 25A Kenyon IR Swanson, James C. 37B Richfield DFL Thiede, Paul M. 13A Pequot Lakes IR Tomlinson, John D. 67B St. Paul DFL Valan, Merlyn Orville 09B Moorhead IR Valento, Don 49A Little Canada IR Vanasek, Robert 24A New Prague DFL Voss, Gordon 47B Blaine DFL Waldorf, Eugene T. 66A St. Paul DFL Weaver, John L. 19B Anoka IR Welch, Richard J. 18A Cambridge DFL Welker, Ray 20A Montevideo IR Wenzel, Steve 12B Little Falls DFL Wieser, Jr., Al W. 35B La Crescent IR Wigley, Richard E. 29B Lake Crystal IR Wynia, Ann 62A St. Paul DFL Zubay, Kenneth Peter 33B Rochester IR

Membership changes Senate District Vacated by Reason for change Successor Date successorseated 41 B. Robert Lewis(DFL) Died of a heart attack on April 25, 1979. Irving M. Stern(DFL) July 9, 1979 55 Eugene E. Stokowski(DFL) Died of a heart attack on August 1, 1979. Anne K. Stokowski(DFL) November 12, 1979 66 John C. Chenoweth(DFL) Resigned on November 26, 1979, to become the Director of the Minneapolis Municipal Employees Retirement Fund. Emery G. Barrette(IR) January 16, 1980 16 Ed Schrom(DFL) Died on January 20, 1980. Ben Omann(IR) February 28, 1980 67 William W. McCutcheon(DFL) Resigned on May 1, 1980, to accept appointment as Chief of the SPPD. Remained vacant 18 Robert G. Dunn(IR) Resigned on July 1, 1980, to accept appointment as the Chair of the Minnesota Waste Management Board. Remained vacant

House of Representatives District Vacated by Reason for change Successor Date successorseated 67A Bob Pavlak(IR) Expelled on May 18, 1979, on charges of unfair campaign practices. Frank J. Rodriguez Sr.(DFL) June 26, 1979 60B Stanley A. Enebo(DFL) Resigned on December 5, 1979, to become the Associate Director of the Minnesota Public Employees Retirement Association. Donna C. Peterson(DFL) January 22, 1980 44B Leo G. Adams(DFL) Resigned to accept appointment to the Minnesota Public Service Commission circa June 1, 1980. Remained vacant

Notes

References

Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Session Search Results (Session 71, Senate) Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Session Search Results (Session 71, House)