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    Orenstein, Howard R.

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1987-96 (District 64B)

    Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

    Counties Served:  Ramsey

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 11/25/1955
    Birth Place: Saint Louis, Missouri
    Birth County:
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death:
    Gender: Male
    Religion:
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Saint Paul
    Occupation (when first elected): Attorney; Robins, Kaplan, Miller and Ciresi

    EDUCATION

    Vanderbilt University; B.A.; Political Science, 1978
    Northwestern University, Law School; J.D.; 1982

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    U.S. Legislative Staff/Council/Commission: United States Senate (Legislative Director); 19?? to 19??
    Judicial Administration: U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois (Law Clerk to Judge John F. Grady); 1983 to 1983
    County Attorney: Hennepin County, Minnesota (Assistant County Attorney); 2004 to 2???

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Barbara Frey
    Children: Three children: Madeleine (daughter), Ross and Walker (sons) (all born while he was in office)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    He was a board member of Jewish Vocational Service.

    He ran unsuccessfully to become a Judge in the Minnesota 2nd Judicial District in the 2008 election.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 3654

    SESSIONS SERVED

    79th Legislative Session (1995-1996)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1995
    Body: House
    District: 64B
    Elected: 11/8/1994
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/2/1995 to 1/5/1997
    Oath Date: 1/3/1995
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Attorney; Robins, Kaplan, Miller and Ciresi/Adjunct Professor of Law, Hamline University
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Education: Higher Education Finance Division
    • Ethics
    • Judiciary
    • Judiciary: Civil Law
    • Ways and Means
    • Ways and Means: Government Efficiency and Oversight Division (Chair)
    term photo
    Click to view

    78th Legislative Session (1993-1994)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/5/1993
    Body: House
    District: 64B
    Elected: 11/3/1992
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/4/1993 to 1/1/1995
    Oath Date: 1/5/1993
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Attorney; Robins, Kaplan, Miller and Ciresi/Adjunct Professor of Law, Hamline University
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Education: Higher Education Finance Division
    • Education: Higher Education Policy (Chair)
    • Judiciary
    • Judiciary: Civil Law
    • Judiciary: Judiciary Finance Division
    • Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs
    • Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs: Metropolitan Council

    77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/1991
    Body: House
    District: 64B
    Elected: 11/6/1990
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/7/1991 to 1/3/1993
    Oath Date: 1/8/1991
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Attorney; Robins, Kaplan, Miller and Ciresi/Adjunct Professor of Law, Hamline University
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Education Division
    • Appropriations: Education Division: Child Care (Chair)
    • Health and Human Services
    • Health and Human Services: Standards and Regulations (Chair)
    • Judiciary
    • Judiciary: Civil Law
    • Judiciary: Criminal Justice Division
    • Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs
    term photo
    Click to view

    76th Legislative Session (1989-1990)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1989
    Body: House
    District: 64B
    Elected: 11/8/1988
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/2/1989 to 1/6/1991
    Oath Date: 1/3/1989
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Attorney; Robins, Kaplan, Miller and Ciresi/Legislator
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Education Division
    • Health and Human Services
    • Health and Human Services: Family Health
    • Judiciary
    • Judiciary: Civil Law (Chair)
    • Judiciary: Criminal Justice Division
    • Judiciary: Facilities Assessment
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Air Transportation

    75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/1987
    Body: House
    District: 64B
    Elected: 11/4/1986
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/1/1989
    Oath Date: 1/6/1987
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Attorney; Robins, Kaplan, Miller and Ciresi
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Education Division
    • General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Gaming
    • General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Gaming: Elections
    • General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Gaming: Veterans Affairs and Miscellaneous Legislation
    • Health and Human Services
    • Health and Human Services: Physical/Mental Health
    • Judiciary
    • Judiciary: Civil Law (Chair)
    • Judiciary: Crime and Family Law Division

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About

    News Sources

    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.
    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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