Minnesota State Senate

From Ballotpedia

(Redirected from Minnesota Senate)
Jump to: navigation, search
Minnesota State Senate


General Information
Type:   Upper house
Term limits:   None
2012 session start:   January 24, 2012
Website:   Official Senate Page
Leadership
Senate President:   Michelle Fischbach, (R)
Majority Leader:   David Senjem, (R)
Minority leader:   Thomas Bakk, (D)
Structure
Members:  67
   Democratic Party (30)
Republican Party (37)
Length of term:   4 years
Authority:   Art IV, Minnesota Constitution
Salary:   $31,140.90 + per diem
Elections
Last Election:  November 2, 2010 (67 seats)
Next election:  November 6, 2012 (67 seats)
Redistricting:  Minnesota Legislature subcommittee has control

Contents

The Minnesota Senate is the upper house of the Minnesota Legislature. There are 67 Senatorial districts, indicated by number. Each member represents an average of 79,163 residents, as of the 2010 Census.[1] After the 2000 Census, each member represented 73,425 residents.[2] Senators generally serve four-year terms.[3] Terms are not limited in Minnesota.[4] The 2010 session convened on February 4th.

State senators are paid a salary of $31,140 per year. During the regular legislative session, legislators can be reimbursed up to $96 per day for travel and living expenses when away from home. Legislators can collect the "per diem" payments seven days a week during the legislative session, whether or not they are actually at the state house. The per diem payments are included toward the recipient's pension and can add more than forty percent to some members' income. [5] [6]

Sessions

Article IV of the Minnesota Constitution establishes when the Minnesota State Legislature, of which the Senate is a part, is to be in session. Section 12 of Article IV states that the Legislature is not to meet in regular session for more than 120 legislative days in each two-year period between legislative elections. Section 12 also does not allow the Legislature to meet in regular session after the first Monday following the third Saturday in May of any year. Within these limits, Section 12 allows the Legislature to decide its meeting dates by law.

As such, MN Statute 3.011 establishes that on odd numbered years the legislature must convene on the first Monday in January, unless that lands on January 1, in which case the legislature must convene by the first Wednesday after the first Monday. The legislature is required to set its own date for even numbered years.

Section 12 of Article IV states that the Governor of Minnesota can call special sessions of the Legislature on extraordinary occasions.

2012

See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions

In 2012, the Senate will be in session from January 24 through May 21.

Major issues

Republicans and Democrats are both hopeful that the 2012 session will be a fresh start after last year's budget showdown that led to a three-week government shutdown. Major issues include job creation, economic development and whether to build a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings.[7]

2011

In 2011, the Senate was in session from January 4 through May 23.

2010

In 2010, the Senate was in session from February 4th to March 17th.

Elections

2012

See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Minnesota State Senate will be held in Minnesota on November 6, 2012. A total of 67 seats will be up for election.

Although Minnesota senators typically serve four-year terms, they are elected to a two-year term during the first election of the decade. This allows for legislative elections to fall shortly after redistricting is completed. Since Minnesota Senate terms are not staggered, all sitting members will be on the ballot in November.

The signature filing deadline is June 5, 2012 and the primary date is August 14, 2012.

2010

See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2010

Elections for the office of Minnesota State Senate were held in Minnesota on November 2, 2010. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was June 1, 2010 and the primary election day was on September 14, 2010.

In 2010, the candidates for state house raised a total of $5,109,415 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were: [8]

Donor Amount
Public Fund $866,745
Public Fund $559,372
Housley, Karin $39,555
6th Senate District Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party $23,500
Nelson Carla Jean House District 30A Cmte $14,014
Minnesota Telecom Alliance $14,000
Education Minnesota $12,900
Faegre & Benson $11,900
Minnesota Association of Realtors $11,750
Minnesota Dental Association $11,600

Qualifications

To be eligible to run for the Minnesota State Senate in 2010, a candidate must be:[9]

  • Eligible to vote in Minnesota
  • Have not filed for more than one office for the upcoming primary or general election
  • At least 21 years old by January 3, 2011
  • A resident of Minnesota for a least one year
  • A resident of the legislative district for at least 6 months before November 2, 2010

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures
How Vacancies are filled in State Legislatures
NevadaMassachusettsColoradoNew MexicoWyomingArizonaMontanaCaliforniaOregonWashingtonIdahoTexasOklahomaKansasNebraskaSouth DakotaNorth DakotaMinnesotaIowaMissouriArkansasLouisianaMississippiAlabamaGeorgiaFloridaSouth CarolinaIllinoisWisconsinTennesseeNorth CarolinaIndianaOhioKentuckyPennsylvaniaNew JerseyNew YorkVermontVermontNew HampshireMaineWest VirginiaVirginiaMarylandMarylandConnecticutConnecticutDelawareDelawareRhode IslandRhode IslandMassachusettsNew HampshireMichiganMichiganAlaska

In Minnesota, all vacancies in the Senate must be filled by a special election[10]. It is up to the appropriate elections authorities to schedule an election as soon as possible. The election must be held during the next general election if there is more than 150 days left in the term. If the Senate is in session, a special election must be called by the Governor no later than 35 days after the vacancy happened. If a vacancy happens when the Senate is out of session and less than 150 days are left in the term, a special election must called by the Governor as soon as possible. This is to allow the winner of the election to be sworn in when the Senate reconvenes[11].

Senators

Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries

As of 2011, members of the Minnesota legislature are paid $31,140.90/year. Senators receive $86/day per diem while representatives receive $77/day. The rates are set by the legislature/rules committee.[12]

The $31,140.90/year that Minnesota legislators are paid as of 2011 is the same as they were paid during legislative sessions in 2010 and 2007. Per diem is also the same as in 2007, but decreased from $96/day in 2010.[13][14]

Partisan composition

See also: Partisan composition of state senates
Party As of February 2012
     Democratic Party 30
     Republican Party 37
Total 67


Leadership

In the Minnesota Senate, members of the majority caucus elect a leader, who directs the business of the Senate and is considered the leader of the Senate. The minority caucus elects its own leaders. The Senate President is elected on the opening day of each biennial session.[15][16]

Current leadership

Position Representative Party
President of the Senate Michelle Fischbach Republican
State Senate President Pro Tempore Gen Olson Republican
State Senate Majority Leader David Senjem Republican
State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Geoff Michel Republican
State Senate Assistant Majority Leader Dave Thompson Republican
State Senate Assistant Majority Leader Doug Magnus Republican
State Senate Assistant Majority Leader David Hann Republican
State Senate Assistant Majority Leader Chris Gerlach Republican
State Senate Minority Leader Thomas Bakk Democratic

When sworn in

See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

Minnesota legislators assume office the first day of biennial (2-year) session.[17] Minnesota law provides that: "The legislature shall meet at the seat of government on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January of each odd-numbered year. When the first Monday in January falls on January 1, it shall meet on the first Wednesday after the first Monday. It shall also meet when called by the governor to meet in special session." [18]

List of current members

District Representative Party Residence
1 Stumpf, LeRoy Democratic Plummer
2 Skoe, Rod Democratic Clearbrook
3 Saxhaug, Tom Democratic Grand Rapids
4 John Carlson Republican Bemidji
5 Tomassoni, David J. Democratic Chisholm
6 Bakk, Thomas M. Democratic Cook
7 Roger Reinert Democratic Duluth
8 Lourey, Tony Democratic Kerrick
9 Langseth, Keith Democratic Glyndon
10 Gretchen Hoffman Republican Hewitt
11 Ingebrigtsen, Bill Republican Alexandria
12 Paul Gazelka Republican Fort Ripley
13 Gimse, Joe Republican Willmar
14 Fischbach, Michelle Republican Paynesville
15 John Pederson Republican St. Cloud
16 Dave Brown Republican Princeton
17 Sean Nienow Republican Harris
18 Scott Newman Republican Dassel
19 Koch, Amy T. Republican Buffalo
20 Kubly, Gary W. Democratic Granite Falls
21 Gary Dahms Republican New Ulm
22 Doug Magnus Republican Tracy
23 Sheran, Kathy Democratic Mankato
24 Rosen, Julie Republican Fairmont
25 Al DeKruif Republican Northfield
26 Parry, Mike Republican
27 Sparks, Dan Democratic Austin
28 John Howe Republican Red Wing
29 Senjem, David H. Republican Rochester
30 Carla Nelson Republican Rochester
31 Jeremy Miller Republican Winona
32 Limmer, Warren Republican Maple Grove
33 Olson, Gen Republican Minnetrista
34 Ortman, Julianne E. Republican Chanhassen
35 Robling, Claire Republican Jordan
36 Dave Thompson Republican Farmington
37 Gerlach, Chris Republican Apple Valley
38 Ted Daley Republican Eagan
39 Metzen, James P. Democratic South St. Paul
40 Dan Hall Republican Burnsville
41 Michel, Geoff Republican Edina
42 Hann, David Republican Eden Prairie
43 Bonoff, Terri Democratic Minnetonka
44 Latz, Ron Democratic St. Louis Park
45 Rest, Ann H. Democratic New Hope
46 Chris Eaton Democratic Brooklyn Center
47 Benjamin Kruse Republican Coon Rapids
48 Jungbauer, Mike Republican East Bethel
49 Michelle Benson Republican Ham Lake
50 Barbara Goodwin Democratic Fridley
51 Pam Wolf Republican Fridley
52 Vandeveer, Ray Republican Forest Lake
53 Roger Chamberlain Republican White Bear Lake
54 Marty, John Democratic Roseville
55 Wiger, Chuck Democratic North St. Paul
56 Ted Lillie Republican Woodbury
57 Sieben, Katie Democratic Newport
58 Higgins, Linda Democratic Minneapolis
59 Kari Dziedzic Democratic Minneapolis
60 Dibble, Scott Democratic Minneapolis
61 Jeff Hayden Democratic Minneapolis
62 Torres Ray, Patricia Democratic Minneapolis
63 Kelash, Ken Democratic Bloomington
64 Cohen, Dick Democratic St. Paul
65 Pappas, Sandy Democratic St. Paul
66 Mary Jo McGuire Democratic St. Paul
67 John Harrington Democratic St. Paul

Standing committees

The Minnesota Senate has sixteen (16) standing committees:

External links

References

  1. ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
  2. ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
  3. ↑ Minnesota term constraints
  4. ↑ Senator Demographics, Eighty-Sixth Legislature
  5. ↑ Minnesota State Legislature, "Frequently Asked Questions About the Minnesota Legislature"
  6. ↑ WCCO-TV, Reality Check: Who's Getting the Most Per Diem?,January 14, 2009
  7. ↑ Star Tribune, "New session opens with cautious hopes for peace," January 21, 2012
  8. ↑ Follow the Money: "Minnesota Senate 2010 Campaign Contributions"
  9. ↑ 2010 Guide for Candidates
  10. ↑ Minnesota Revisor of Statutes "Minnesota Election Law"(Referenced Statute 351.055)
  11. ↑ Minnesota Revisor of Statutes "Minnesota Election Law"(Referenced Statute 204D.19 (1)-(3))
  12. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2011 Legislator Compensation Data"
  13. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2010 Legislator Compensation Data"
  14. ↑ Empire Center, "Legislative Salaries Per State as of 2007"
  15. ↑ Minnesota Legislature - "FAQ - How are leaders in the House and Senate chosen?"
  16. ↑ Minnesota Senate - 2009-2010 leadership list
  17. ↑ Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 3, Section 3.05
  18. ↑ Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 3, Section 3.011
v • d • e
State legislatures
Legislatures
Alabama (H, S) · Alaska (H, S) · Arizona (H, S) · Arkansas (H, S) · California (A, S) · Colorado (H, S) · Connecticut (H, S) · Delaware (H, S) · Florida (H, S) · Georgia (H, S) · Hawaii (H, S) · Idaho (H, S) · Illinois (H, S) · Indiana (H, S) · Iowa (H, S) · Kansas (H, S) · Kentucky (H, S) · Louisiana (H, S) · Maine (H, S) · Maryland (H, S) · Massachusetts (H, S) · Michigan (H, S) · Minnesota (H, S) · Mississippi (H, S) · Missouri (H, S) · Montana (H, S) · Nebraska · Nevada (A, S) · New Hampshire (H, S) · New Jersey (GA, S) · New Mexico (H, S) · New York (A, S) · North Carolina (H, S) · North Dakota (H, S) · Ohio (H, S) · Oklahoma (H, S) · Oregon (H, S) · Pennsylvania (H, S) · Rhode Island (H, S) · South Carolina (H, S) · South Dakota (H, S) · Tennessee (H, S) · Texas (H, S) · Utah (H, S) · Vermont (H, S) · Virginia (H, S) · Washington (H, S) · West Virginia (H, S) · Wisconsin (A, S) · Wyoming (H, S)
2012
2011
2010
2009
Features of
state legislatures
State senates
State houses
Leadership positions
Retrieved from "http://www.ballotpedia.com/wiki/index.php/Minnesota_State_Senate"
Personal tools