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Anderson, Irvin N. "Irv"

Sessions Served

Other Information

House 1965-66 (District 64); House 1967-72 (District 64B); House 1973-82 (District 3A); House 1991-2006 (District 3A)

Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus

Counties Served: Beltrami, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods, St. Louis

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 6/18/1923

Birth Place: International Falls, Minnesota

Birth County: Koochiching

Birth Country: United States

Date of Death: 11/17/2008

Gender: Male

Religion: Catholic

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names: Irv

City of Residence (when first elected): International Falls

Occupation (when first elected): Paper Inspector, M and O Paper Company

EDUCATION

International Falls High School; Secondary;
University of Minnesota; Attended College;

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Military: United States Navy (World War II, Pacific Theatre, Navy Aviator, received the Air Medal); 194? to 19??

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Governor's Commission on Wood Products (Staff); 1983 to 19?? [Appointed]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Phyllis
Children: Two children: Gregory "Greg" (son); Cynthia "Cindy" (daughter)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 1982 Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party primary election. Bob Neuenschwander's margin of victory over Irv Anderson in the primary election was so small that a recount occurred. Bob Neuenschwander was determined to be the winner.

He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 1984 and 1986 elections.

He was a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in International Falls, Minnesota.

He died at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. His funeral was at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in International Falls, Minnesota and he was buried there in St. Thomas Catholic Cemetery.

Religion provided by the Catholic Bulletin, 3/21/1975.

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Total Days Served: 12412

SESSIONS SERVED

84th Legislative Session (2005-2006)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 03A

Elected: 11/2/2004

Residence: International Falls

Term of Office: 1/4/2005 to 1/2/2007

Counties Represented: Itasca, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2005 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Regulated Industries Minutes
Taxes Minutes
Ways and Means Minutes

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83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 03A

Elected: 11/5/2002

Residence: International Falls

Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/3/2005

Counties Represented: Itasca, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Regulated Industries Minutes
Taxes Minutes
Ways and Means Minutes

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82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 03A

Elected: 11/7/2000

Residence: International Falls

Term of Office: 1/3/2001 to 1/6/2003

Counties Represented: Itasca, Koochiching, St. Louis

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2001 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2001 1st Sp.S. - Author
2002 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2002 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Redistricting Minutes
Taxes Minutes
Taxes: Sales and Income Tax Division Minutes
Ways and Means Minutes

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81st Legislative Session (1999-2000)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 03A

Elected: 11/3/1998

Residence: International Falls

Term of Office: 1/5/1999 to 1/2/2001

Counties Represented: Itasca, Koochiching, St. Louis

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Capital Investment Minutes
Environment and Natural Resources Policy Minutes
Jobs and Economic Development Policy Minutes

80th Legislative Session (1997-1998)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 03A

Elected: 11/5/1996

Residence: International Falls

Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/4/1999

Counties Represented: Itasca, Koochiching, St. Louis

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Financial Institutions and Insurance (Chair) Minutes
Regulated Industries and Energy
Taxes Minutes
Taxes: Property Tax and Tax Increment Financing Division Minutes
Transportation and Transit Minutes
Transportation and Transit: Transportation Efficiency and Standards Minutes

Session Notes: He was unsuccessful in his bid to be reelected as Speaker of the House.

79th Legislative Session (1995-1996)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 03A

Elected: 11/8/1994

Residence: International Falls

Term of Office: 1/3/1995 to 1/6/1997

Counties Represented: Itasca, Koochiching, St. Louis

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Rules and Legislative Administration
Rules and Legislative Administration: Administration
Rules and Legislative Administration: Personnel
Rules and Legislative Administration: Rules
Taxes
Taxes: Property Tax and Tax Increment Financing Division
Ways and Means

Leadership Position: Speaker of the House

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78th Legislative Session (1993-1994)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 03A

Elected: 11/3/1992

Residence: International Falls

Term of Office: 1/5/1993 to 1/2/1995

Counties Represented: Itasca, Koochiching, St. Louis

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Rules and Legislative Administration
Rules and Legislative Administration: Personnel
Taxes
Taxes: Property Tax
Ways and Means

Leadership Position: Majority Leader
Leadership Notes: He was elected as House Majority Leader on March 25, 1993 after Alan Welle resigned from the position, effective March 29, 1993.

Leadership Position: Speaker of the House
Leadership Notes: He became Speaker of the House designate when elected by the House Democratic-Farmer-Labor caucus on September 1, 1993 after Dee Long resigned from the position.

77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 03A

Elected: 11/6/1990

Residence: International Falls

Term of Office: 1/8/1991 to 1/4/1993

Counties Represented: Itasca, Koochiching

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Labor-Management Relations
Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs (Chair)
Regulated Industries
Taxes
Taxes: State Taxes and Tax Laws
Ways and Means

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72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 03A

Elected: 11/4/1980

Residence: International Falls

Term of Office: 1/6/1981 to 1/3/1983

Counties Represented: Beltrami, Itasca, Koochiching

Occupation: Quality Control, Boise Cascade Corporation

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Commerce and Economic Development
Commerce and Economic Development: Liquor
Commerce and Economic Development: Oil Decontrol Task Force
Reapportionment and Elections
Rules and Legislative Administration
Taxes (Chair)
Taxes: Local Government Aids and Bonding
Taxes: Mineral Taxation
Taxes: Revenue Division
Taxes: Tax Laws Division

Session Notes: He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party endorsement in the 1982 primary election.

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71st Legislative Session (1979-1980)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 03A

Elected: 11/7/1978

Residence: International Falls

Term of Office: 1/3/1979 to 1/5/1981

Counties Represented: Beltrami, Itasca, Koochiching

Occupation: Quality Control, Boise Cascade Corp.

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Environment and Natural Resources
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs (Chair) [He was the Chair in 1980 only.]
Rules and Legislative Administration (Chair) [He was the Chair in 1979.]
Rules and Legislative Administration: Rules (Chair)
Taxes
Taxes: Division I - Income and Sales Tax Division - Ex Officio Member

Leadership Position: DFL Caucus Leader-1979
Leadership Notes: The House was evenly split along party lines after the November 1978 election. Thus neither party had majority nor minority status going into the 71st Legislative Session. In May 1979 the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) party gained majority status.

Leadership Position: Majority Leader
Leadership Notes: He became Majority Leader in May 1979 after the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) party broke the tie in the House that occurred after the 1978 election.

70th Legislative Session (1977-1978)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 03A

Elected: 11/2/1976

Residence: International Falls

Term of Office: 1/4/1977 to 1/2/1979

Counties Represented: Beltrami, Itasca, Koochiching

Occupation: Quality Control Department, Boise Cascade

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Rules and Legislative Administration (Chair)
Taxes

Leadership Position: Majority Leader

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69th Legislative Session (1975-1976)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 03A

Elected: 11/5/1974

Residence: International Falls

Term of Office: 1/7/1975 to 1/3/1977

Counties Represented: Beltrami, Itasca, Koochiching

Occupation: Inspector, Boise Cascade Corporation

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Rules and Legislative Administration (Chair)
Taxes

Leadership Position: Majority Leader

68th Legislative Session (1973-1974)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 03A

Elected: 11/7/1972

Residence: International Falls

Term of Office: 1/2/1973 to 1/6/1975

Counties Represented: Beltrami, Itasca, Koochiching

Occupation: Inspector, Boise Cascade Corp.

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus

Committees:

Rules and Legislative Administration (Chair)
Taxes

Leadership Position: Majority Leader

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67th Legislative Session (1971-1972)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 64B

Elected: 11/3/1970

Residence: International Falls

Term of Office: 1/5/1971 to 1/1/1973

Counties Represented: Beltrami, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods

Occupation: Inspector, Boise Cascade Corp.

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus

Committees:

Education
Environmental Preservation
Natural Resources
Regulated Industries
Taxes

66th Legislative Session (1969-1970)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 64B

Elected: 11/5/1968

Residence: International Falls

Term of Office: 1/7/1969 to 1/4/1971

Counties Represented: Beltrami, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods

Occupation: Paper Inspector, Boise Cascade Corp.

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus

Committees:

Conservation
Education
Land and Water Resources
Municipal Affairs
Taxes

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65th Legislative Session (1967-1968)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 64B

Elected: 11/8/1966

Residence: International Falls

Term of Office: 1/3/1967 to 1/6/1969

Counties Represented: Beltrami, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods

Occupation: Paper Inspector, Boise Cascade Corp.

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus

Committees:

Education
Forestry and Public Domain
Game and Fish
Government Employee Security
Taxes
University and College

64th Legislative Session (1965-1966)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 64

Elected: 11/3/1964

Residence: International Falls

Term of Office: 1/5/1965 to 1/2/1967

Counties Represented: Koochiching

Occupation: Paper Inspector, M and O Paper Company

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus

Committees:

Education
Game and Fish
State and Junior Colleges

OTHER INFORMATION

Senate Photos

The photos in this collection were scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library.

Representative Irv Anderson, Senator Jerald Anderson, and Senator Roger Moe discuss legislation, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Senator Doug Johnson, Representative Irv Anderson, and Senator Bob Lessard talk in the Senate Chamber, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Senators Marvin Hanson, Roger Moe, and Doug Johnson, and Representatives Irv Anderson, Harry Sieben, and Willis Eken, and others in negotiations prior to a 1981 special session to address the state's severe budget difficulties, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Session Interviews
Session Interview (Video) 2003 House Interview

Articles & Books About
Oakes, Larry. "State Loses One of Its Greatest Representatives." Star Tribune, November 18, 2008, p. B1, B7.

"House Session Focuses on Anderson, TV Cameras." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, February 25, 1994, p. 1, 3.

Anderson, Jim. "DFL Selects Anderson as New Majority Leader." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, March 18, 1993, p. 2.

"Through Thick and Thin, Anderson Perseveres." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, April 19, 1991, p. 11.

Archive Collections
Irvin Anderson Papers, 1965-1971, 1990-2003 (bulk 1991-2000) - Available in the Minnesota Historical Society's Collections.

District Files

District File - 2000 District 03A
District File - 2002 District 03A
District File - 2003 District 03A
District File - 2004 District 03A
District File - 2005 District 03A
District File - 2006 District 03A
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has collected newspaper articles on legislators since 1973. They are available in the Library.

Legislators Past & Present Home

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