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Penny, Timothy Joseph "Tim"

Senate 1977-82 (District 30)

Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Counties Served:  Faribault, Freeborn, Martin, Steele, Waseca

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 11/19/1951
Birth Place: Albert Lea, Minnesota
Birth County: Freeborn
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death:
Gender: Male
Religion:
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names: Tim
City of Residence (when first elected): New Richland
Occupation (when first elected): Job Developer Comprehensive Employment Training Center

EDUCATION

Kiester High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1969
Winona State University; B.A.; Political Science, With Honors, 1974
University of Minnesota, Department of Public Affairs; Attended Graduate School; Minneapolis Campus

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

State Governor Staff: Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura's Office; [Dates Unknown]
Military: United States Naval Reserve (Lieutenant Commander, 12 years); 19?? to ?
State Legislative Staff: Minnesota House of Representatives (Intern); 1971 to 1971
State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Governor's Commission on Crime Prevention and Control (Researcher); 1971 to 1971
State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota State University Board (Member); 1974 to 1977
State Legislative Staff: Minnesota (Legislative Aide); 1975 to 1976
U.S. Representative: 1st Congressional District, Minnesota; 01/03/1983 to 01/04/1995 [Elected]
State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board; 06/1999 to 01/13/2000 [Appointed]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Barbara "Barb" (she died in January 2006)
Children: Four children (two while in office, two more after he left office): Jamison, Joseph, Molly, and Marcus
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He was of Scottish-Irish and Norwegian ancestry.

Special Legislative Concerns: agriculture, education, small business, transportation.

He grew up on a farm in Mansfield Township, Freeborn County, Minnesota.

He ran unsuccessfully as the Independence party endorsed candidate for Minnesota Governor in the 2002 election.

Total Days Served: 2191

SESSIONS SERVED

72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 30
Elected: 11/4/1980
Residence: New Richland
Term of Office: 1/5/1981 to 1/2/1983
Counties Represented: Faribault, Freeborn, Martin, Steele, Waseca
Occupation: Sales Representative
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Agriculture
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Environmental Protection
  • Finance
  • Finance: Education
  • Finance: Joint Claims (Chair)
  • Finance: Semi-States/DOT
  • Transportation
  • Transportation: Highway Safety
  • Transportation: Rural and Commercial

71st Legislative Session (1979-1980) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 30
Elected: 11/2/1976
Residence: New Richland
Term of Office: 1/3/1977 to 1/4/1981
Counties Represented: Faribault, Freeborn, Martin, Steele, Waseca
Occupation: Sales Representative
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Agriculture
  • Commerce
  • Commerce: Consumer Protection
  • Governmental Operations
  • Governmental Operations: Civil Administration Regulatory Reform-1980
  • Governmental Operations: Regulatory Reform-1979
  • Governmental Operations: Structure-1979
  • Transportation
  • Transportation: Pipelines-1979
  • Transportation: Rural and Commercial Transportation (Chair)
  • Transportation: Transportation Policy

70th Legislative Session (1977-1978)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 30
Elected: 11/2/1976
Residence: New Richland
Term of Office: 1/3/1977 to 1/4/1981
Counties Represented: Faribault, Freeborn, Martin, Steele, Waseca
Occupation: Job Developer Comprehensive Employment Training Center
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Agriculture
  • Commerce
  • Commerce: Consumer Protection and Economic Development
  • Governmental Operations
  • Governmental Operations: Structure
  • Transportation
  • Transportation: Public Transportation (Chair)

Articles & Books About

Articles & Books By

  • Garrett, Major, and Timothy J. Penny. "The Fifteen Biggest Lies in Politics." New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1998.
  • Penny, Timothy J., and Steven E Schier. "Payment Due: A Nation in Debt, A Generation in Trouble." Boulder, Colo.: Westview Press, 1996.
  • Penny, Timothy J., and Major Garrett. "Common Cents: a Retiring Six-Term Congressman Reveals How Congress Really Works-- and What We Must Do to Fix It." Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1995.
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

Archive Collections


The Library maintains newspaper clippings on individual legislators during their terms. Clippings are available from 1973 to the present in a variety of formats: 1973-1999, microfiche available at the Library; 2000-2009, scanned in yearly compilations and digitally available on the legislative network; 2009-present, archived in a searchable database maintained by the Library and available on the legislative network.