Current Office: Senator
First Elected: 11/07/2006
Next Election: 2014
Party: Democratic/Farmer/Labor

General

Gender: Female
Family: Husband: Jackson Ray; 2 Children: Tomás, Patrick
Birth date: 03/25/1964
Birthplace: Columbia
Home City: Minneapolis MN
Religion: Catholic

Profession

Social Services Consultant/Policy Analyst/Program Administrator, Minnesota Department of Human Services, 2006-present Former Minnesota State Ombudsperson for Families, Minnesota State Government, 1992-1998 Guardian Ad-litem, Hennepin County Juvenile Court, 1990-1992

Education

MPA, Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota, 2004 BA, Urban Studies, University of Minnesota

Committees

Division on E-12 Education Budget and Policy
Division on Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Budget
Education
Energy Subdivision
Health, Housing and Family Security
Jobs and Economic Growth
State Government Innovation and Veterans

HF 2795 Expands Gambling
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SF 1694 Authorizes the Sale of Certain Fireworks
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Nay

HF 2341 Requires Physician to be Present When Abortion Drugs are Administered
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 1921 Increases Requirements for Abortion Providers
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HF 2738 Requires Photo Identification to Vote
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Nay

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HF 2795 Expands Gambling
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SF 1694 Authorizes the Sale of Certain Fireworks
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Nay

HF 2341 Requires Physician to be Present When Abortion Drugs are Administered
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 1921 Increases Requirements for Abortion Providers
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HF 2738 Requires Photo Identification to Vote
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Nay

HF 545 Requires State Budget to Include Federal Insolvency Contingency Plan
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

HF 1870 Authorizes School Districts to Dismiss Teachers Based on Performance
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

HF 1467 Expands the Use of Deadly Force in Self-Defense
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: -

Anderson Nomination Confirmation of Ellen Anderson as Public Utilities Commissioner
Stage: Motion Vote
Vote: Yea

HF 25 2011-2013 Biennium Budget
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HF 20 2011-2013 Biennium Budget
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HF 4 Higher Education Appropriations
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 2 2011-2013 Biennium Budget
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HF 26 2011-2013 Biennium Education Budget
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 760 2011-2012 Health and Human Services Budget
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Nay

HF 1425 Legislative Redistricting Plan
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HF 1426 Congressional Redistricting Plan
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 1308 Prohibiting Same-Sex Marriage
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 40 Act Amending Licensing and Codes for Education
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

HF 1 Environmental Review Requirements
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: -

HF 130 2010-2013 Biennium Budget
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SF 40 Act Amending Licensing and Codes for Education
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 4 Repealing the Ban on Construction of New Nuclear Power Plants
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HF 1 2010-2011 Budget
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HF 2614 Health and Human Services Law Amendments
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

SF 341 Domestic Partner Death Rights
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

HF 2037 2010-2011 Budget Amendments
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

HF 2614 Health and Human Services Law Amendments
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: -

SF 2716 Charter School Facilities Financing Amendments
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HF 1671 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Amendments
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Nay

HF 2700 Omnibus Bonding and Budget Amendments
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

SF 2168 General Assistance Medical Care Program Modifications
Stage: Override of Veto
Vote: Yea

SF 2168 General Assistance Medical Care Program Modifications
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SF 2360 Construction Projects Authorizations and Appropriations
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HF 108 Primary Seat Belt Law
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SF 97 Legalizing Medical Marijuana
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

HF 108 Primary Seat Belt Law
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HF 1362 Health Budget
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

SF 1331 Changing Early Voting and Special Election Requirements
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HF 1362 Health Budget
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

HF 885 Tax Law Amendments
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

SF 2081 2010-2011 Economic Development Budget
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

SF 97 Legalizing Medical Marijuana
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SF 341 Domestic Partner Death Rights
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

Ban on State Funds for Abortions
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 802 2009-2011 Biennium Public Safety and Corrections Budget
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

Permitting Slot Machines at Race Tracks
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Nay

SF 802 2009-2011 Biennium Public Safety and Corrections Budget
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

Permitting Slot Machines at Race Tracks
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Nay

SF 802 2009-2011 Biennium Public Safety and Corrections Budget
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SF 2083 2009-2011 Biennium Higher Education Budget
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SF 971 School Anti-Bullying Policy Requirements
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

Limit of 3 Percent on Tuition Increases
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 971 School Anti-Bullying Policy Requirements
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SF 2083 2009-2011 Biennium Higher Education Budget
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SF 971 School Anti-Bullying Policy Requirements
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

Limmer Amdt Homosexuality in Education
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Nay

SF 1328 2009-2011 Biennium Education Budget
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SF 10 Sharing Services For Schools Districts
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

Ending Prohibition on New Nuclear Power Plants
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Nay

HF 3195 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap and Trade Program Report
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

HF 6 2008 Education Budget
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

HF 3807 Real ID Prohibition
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

HF 6 2008 Education Budget
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

HF 3807 Real ID Prohibition
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

SF 2965 Surrogate Mother Regulations
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

HF 3807 Real ID Prohibition
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

HF 3391 Health Care Reform Bill
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

SF 875 Minimum Wage Increase
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

SF 3001 Modifying State Education Policies
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

HF 3149 Homeowner and Property Tax Bill
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

HF 3195 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap and Trade Program Report
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

HF 1351 Transportation Policy Reform
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: -

SF 2822 "Good Faith" Requirement for Insurance Companies
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: -

SF 960 Modification of the Definition of Dependents for Local Government Benefits
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

Marty Amnd. Removing Funding for Stadium Study
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Yea

Hann Amnd. Prohibiting Funding for Cities that Prevent Immigration Status Checks
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Nay

SF 3099 Health Improvement Program
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

Marty Amnd. Health Improvement Program Amendments
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Yea

SF 2822 "Good Faith" Requirement for Insurance Companies
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

Scheid Amnd. Insurance Payouts Amendment
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Nay

HF 380 Capital Improvements Budget
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

GN Molnau Confirmation of Carol Molnau as Department of Transportation Commissioner
Stage: Confirmation Vote
Vote: Nay

HF 2800 2009-2010 Transportation Budget
Stage: Override of Veto
Vote: Yea

HF 2800 2009-2010 Transportation Budget
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HF 2285 Funding for Natural Resources and Cultural Heritage
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

HF 464 School District Health Insurance Pool
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

SF 653 Resident Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HF 946 Transportation Funding and Gas Tax
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

SF 238 Smoking Ban
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

SF 893 Earlier Precinct Caucus Date
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SF 238 Smoking Ban
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

SF 1989 2008-2009 Higher Education Budget
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Nay

SF 2171 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

SF 1997 2008-2009 State Government Budget
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

SF 345 Medical Marijuana
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SF 1398 Domestic Partnership Visitation Rights
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S Amendment Domestic Partner Visitation Rights
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Nay

SF 100 Public Funding for Stem Cell Research
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SF 875 Minimum Wage Increase
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SF 1611 Income Tax Increase and Education Appropriations
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SF 2171 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SF 276 School District Health Insurance Pool
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SF 238 Smoking Ban
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HF 946 Transportation Funding and Gas Tax
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

SF 1997 2008-2009 State Government Budget
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SF 1986 Transportation Taxes and Appropriations
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SF 1989 2008-2009 Higher Education Budget
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SF 372 Legalization of Ticket Scalping
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

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