Votetracker

SORT VOTES BY: Name | District | Party | Vote Governor's Desk
May 7, 2007

Result: Vetoed
House approval of state government operations bill
April 19, 2007 (SF1997)

(AP) Republicans were so disgusted with the state government bill - which includes health coverage for the same-sex partners of state employees - that they stopped trying to remake it and forced an unexpectedly quick vote after two days of prolonged post-midnight sessions.

"The payback to the special interests, the overspending, the bloat, the waste, the outrage - it's all in this one bill," said GOP House Minority Leader Marty Seifert.

That bill squeaked by on a 68-64 vote, with 17 Democrats voting no. The bill would force the state to offer health insurance to gay and lesbian partners of state employees, and would allow local governments to do so if they chose.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty - who worked to remove the domestic-partner benefits from state government employee contracts in 2003 - said the bill deserves his veto, and not just because of the same-sex provisions.

"There may be 15 reasons for vetoing that one," he said.

The debate came on the same day a gay-rights advocacy group staged its annual lobbying blitz, drawing hundreds to the Capitol. The domestic-partner provisions are the top priority of Outfront Minnesota this year.

The roll call below is on the omnibus bill as a whole and the vote may not reflect the lawmaker's position on this particular provision.

Result: Passed

Legislator	Party	District	Vote
Jim Abeler	Republican	48B	AGAINST
Bruce Anderson	Republican	19A	AGAINST
Sarah Anderson	Republican	43A	AGAINST
Tom Anzelc	DFL	03A	FOR
Joe Atkins	DFL	39B	FOR
Michael Beard	Republican	35A	AGAINST
John Benson	DFL	43B	AGAINST
John Berns	Republican	33B	AGAINST
Karla Bigham	DFL	57A	FOR
David Bly	DFL	25B	FOR
Laura Brod	Republican	25A	AGAINST
Robin Brown	DFL	27A	AGAINST
Kathy Brynaert	DFL	23B	FOR
Mark Buesgens	Republican	35B	AGAINST
Julie Bunn	DFL	56A	AGAINST
Lyndon Carlson	DFL	45B	FOR
Karen Clark	DFL	61A	FOR
Tony Cornish	Republican	24B	AGAINST
Jim Davnie	DFL	62A	FOR
Chris DeLaForest	Republican	49A	AGAINST
Matt Dean	Republican	52B	AGAINST
Randy Demmer	Republican	29A	AGAINST
Bob Dettmer	Republican	52A	AGAINST
David Dill	DFL	06A	FOR
Denise Dittrich	DFL	47A	AGAINST
Augustine Willie Dominguez	DFL	58B	FOR
Al Doty	DFL	12B	AGAINST
Rob Eastlund	Republican	17A	AGAINST
Kent Eken	DFL	02A	FOR
Tom Emmer	Republican	19B	AGAINST
Ron Erhardt	Republican	41A	AGAINST
Sondra Erickson	Republican	16A	AGAINST
Tim Faust	DFL	08B	FOR
Brad Finstad	Republican	21B	AGAINST
Patti Fritz	DFL	26B	FOR
Paul Gardner	DFL	53A	FOR
Pat Garofalo	Republican	36B	AGAINST
Steve Gottwalt	Republican	15A	AGAINST
Mindy Greiling	DFL	54A	FOR
Bob Gunther	Republican	24A	AGAINST
Tom Hackbarth	Republican	48A	AGAINST
Rod Hamilton	Republican	22B	AGAINST
Rick Hansen	DFL	39A	FOR
Alice Hausman	DFL	66B	FOR
Larry Haws	DFL	15B	FOR
Bud Heidgerken	Republican	13A	AGAINST
Debra Hilstrom	DFL	46B	FOR
Bill Hilty	DFL	08A	FOR
Mary Liz Holberg	Republican	36A	AGAINST
Joe Hoppe	Republican	34B	AGAINST
Frank Hornstein	DFL	60B	FOR
Melissa Hortman	DFL	47B	FOR
Larry Hosch	DFL	14B	AGAINST
Thomas Huntley	DFL	07A	FOR
Mike Jaros	DFL	07B	FOR
Sheldon Johnson	DFL	67B	FOR
Al Juhnke	DFL	13B	FOR
Phyllis Kahn	DFL	59B	FOR
Jeremy Kalin	DFL	17B	AGAINST
Margaret Anderson Kelliher	DFL	60A	FOR
Kate Knuth	DFL	50B	FOR
Lyle Koenen	DFL	20B	FOR
Paul Kohls	Republican	34A	AGAINST
Scott Kranz	DFL	51A	AGAINST
Carolyn Laine	DFL	50A	FOR
Morrie Lanning	Republican	09A	AGAINST
Ann Lenczewski	DFL	40B	FOR
John Lesch	DFL	66A	FOR
Tina Liebling	DFL	30A	FOR
Bernard Lieder	DFL	01B	FOR
Leon Lillie	DFL	55A	FOR
Diane Loeffler	DFL	59A	FOR
Shelley Madore	DFL	37A	FOR
Doug Magnus	Republican	22A	AGAINST
Tim Mahoney	DFL	67A	FOR
Carlos Mariani	DFL	65B	FOR
Paul Marquart	DFL	09B	AGAINST
Sandra Masin	DFL	38A	FOR
Carol McFarlane	Republican	53B	AGAINST
Denny McNamara	Republican	57B	AGAINST
Frank Moe	DFL	04A	FOR
Will Morgan	DFL	40A	AGAINST
Terry Morrow	DFL	23A	FOR
Joe Mullery	DFL	58A	FOR
Erin Murphy	DFL	64A	FOR
Mary Murphy	DFL	06B	FOR
Michael Nelson	DFL	46A	FOR
Bud Nornes	Republican	10A	AGAINST
Kim Norton	DFL	29B	FOR
Dave Olin	DFL	01A	AGAINST
Mark Olson	Republican	16B	AGAINST
Mary Ellen Otremba	DFL	11B	AGAINST
Erik Paulsen	Republican	42B	AGAINST
Michael Paymar	DFL	64B	FOR
Gene Pelowski, Jr.	DFL	31A	AGAINST
Joyce Peppin	Republican	32A	AGAINST
Aaron Peterson	DFL	20A	FOR
Neil W. Peterson	Republican	41B	AGAINST
Sandra Peterson	DFL	45A	FOR
Jeanne Poppe	DFL	27B	AGAINST
Tom Rukavina	DFL	05A	FOR
Connie Ruth	Republican	26A	AGAINST
Maria Ruud	DFL	42A	FOR
Brita Sailer	DFL	02B	FOR
Bev Scalze	DFL	54B	FOR
Marty Seifert	Republican	21A	AGAINST
Anthony Sertich	DFL	05B	FOR
Dan Severson	Republican	14A	AGAINST
Ron Shimanski	Republican	18A	AGAINST
Steve Simon	DFL	44A	FOR
Dean Simpson	Republican	10B	AGAINST
Nora Slawik	DFL	55B	FOR
Linda Slocum	DFL	63B	FOR
Steve Smith	Republican	33A	AGAINST
Loren Solberg	DFL	03B	FOR
Steve Sviggum	Republican	28B	AGAINST
Marsha Swails	DFL	56B	AGAINST
Cy Thao	DFL	65A	FOR
Paul Thissen	DFL	63A	FOR
Tom Tillberry	DFL	51B	FOR
Kathy Tingelstad	Republican	49B	AGAINST
Ken Tschumper	DFL	31B	FOR
Dean Urdahl	Republican	18B	AGAINST
Jean Wagenius	DFL	62B	FOR
Neva Walker	DFL	61B	FOR
John Ward	DFL	12A	AGAINST
Lynn Wardlow	Republican	38B	AGAINST
Andy Welti	DFL	30B	AGAINST
Torrey Westrom	Republican	11A	AGAINST
Ryan Winkler	DFL	44B	FOR
Sandy Wollschlager	DFL	28A	FOR
Kurt Zellers	Republican	32B	AGAINST

Senate approval
March 24, 2007 (SF1997)

SF1369 was incorporated into the omnibus state departments appropriation bill and approved by the Senate on 42-to-20 floor vote. The positions stated below are reflected in the vote on Sen. Warren Limmer's amendment to remove the benefits from the omnibus bill. A legislator listed as being "for" the benefits, voted "no" on the amendment to remove them.

Result: Passed

Legislator	Party	District	Vote
Ellen R. Anderson	DFL	66	FOR
Thomas M. Bakk	DFL	06	FOR
Linda Berglin	DFL	61	FOR
Don Betzold	DFL	51	FOR
Terri Bonoff	DFL	43	FOR
Jim Carlson	DFL	39	FOR
Satveer Chaudhary	DFL	50	FOR
Tarryl Clark	DFL	15	FOR
Richard J. Cohen	DFL	64	FOR
Dick Day	Republican	26	AGAINST
D. Scott Dibble	DFL	60	FOR
Steve Dille	Republican	18	FOR
John Doll	DFL	40	FOR
Sharon Erickson Ropes	DFL	31	FOR
Michelle L. Fischbach	Republican	14	AGAINST
Leo T. Foley	DFL	47	FOR
Dennis R. Frederickson	Republican	21	AGAINST
Joe Gimse	Republican	13	AGAINST
David Hann	Republican	42	AGAINST
Bill Ingebrigtsen	Republican	11	AGAINST
Debbie J. Johnson	Republican	49	AGAINST
Michael J. Jungbauer	Republican	48	AGAINST
Amy Koch	Republican	19	AGAINST
Paul E. Koering	Republican	12	FOR
Gary W. Kubly	DFL	20	FOR
Keith Langseth	DFL	09	FOR
Dan Larson	DFL	63	FOR
Ron Latz	DFL	44	FOR
Warren Limmer	Republican	32	AGAINST
Tony Lourey	DFL	8	FOR
Ann Lynch	DFL	30	FOR
John Marty	DFL	54	FOR
James P. Metzen	DFL	39	FOR
Geoff Michel	Republican	41	AGAINST
Mee Moua	DFL	67	FOR
Thomas M. Neuville	Republican	25	AGAINST
Rick Olseen	DFL	17	FOR
Gen Olson	Republican	33	AGAINST
Mary Olson	DFL	4	FOR
Julianne E. Ortman	Republican	34	AGAINST
Sandra L. Pappas	DFL	65	FOR
Pat Pariseau	Republican	36	AGAINST
Lawrence J. Pogemiller	DFL	59	FOR
Yvonne Prettner Solon	DFL	07	FOR
Ann H. Rest	DFL	45	FOR
Claire A. Robling	Republican	35	AGAINST
Sandy Rummel	DFL	53	FOR
Kathy Saltzman	DFL	56	FOR
Tom Saxhaug	DFL	03	FOR
Linda Scheid	DFL	46	FOR
David H. Senjem	Republican	29	AGAINST
Kathy Sheran	DFL	23	FOR
Katie Sieben	DFL	57	FOR
Rod Skoe	DFL	02	FOR
Dan Skogen	DFL	10	AGAINST
Dan Sparks	DFL	27	AGAINST
LeRoy A. Stumpf	DFL	01	FOR
David J. Tomassoni	DFL	05	FOR
Patricia Torres Ray	DFL	62	FOR
Ray Vandeveer	Republican	52	AGAINST
Jim Vickerman	DFL	22	AGAINST
Betsy L. Wergin	Republican	16	AGAINST
Charles W. Wiger	DFL	55	FOR

More from MPR:
Senate OKs insurance for same-sex partners of state workers (03/24/2007)

Senate State Government Budget Division approval
March 12, 2007 (SF1369)

The division approved the legislation after testimony from both sides of the debate. At one point, Sen. Rick Olseen asked the Minnesota Family Council why it was working on defeating this bill in the name of marriage, when the divorce rate among same-sex couples is so high. Tom Prichard, the executive director, responded that his organization is working on legislation to address the divorce rate, including changing Minnesota's no-fault divorce laws. Sen. Sandy Pappas said she "didn't come here today to debate marriage," but to pass legislation giving the state's homosexual employees the same access to benefits that heterosexual employees have.

Result: Passed

Legislator	Party	District	Vote
Don Betzold	DFL	51	FOR
Michael J. Jungbauer	Republican	48	AGAINST
Gary W. Kubly	DFL	20	FOR
Dan Larson	DFL	63	FOR
Warren Limmer	Republican	32	AGAINST
Rick Olseen	DFL	17	FOR
Sandra L. Pappas	DFL	65	FOR
Ann H. Rest	DFL	45	FOR
Claire A. Robling	Republican	35	AGAINST

Senate State and Local Govt. Operations and Oversight Committee approval
March 9, 2007 (SF1369)

The bill was approved by the committee.

Result: Passed