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

General

Gender: Female
Family: Husband: Josh Straka: 1 Child: John
Birth date: 03/23/1977
Birthplace: Newport, MN
Home City: Cottage Grove MN
Religion: Catholic

Profession

Staffer, Senator Mark Dayton, United States Senate

Education

Masters, Public Administration, Harvard Kennedy School of Government BA, History/Government, Colorado College

Committees

Division on Transportation Budget and Policy
Education
Local Government and Elections
Transit Subdivision
Transportation

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

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

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: Yea

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

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: Yea

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: Nay

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

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

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

HF 4 Higher Education Appropriations
Stage: Passage
Vote: -

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

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

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: Nay

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

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: -

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: Yea

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

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

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: Nay

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

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

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

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

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: Nay

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

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

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: Yea

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

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: Nay

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: Nay

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

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: Yea

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: -

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

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

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

HF 2480 Baseball Stadium Financing, Construction, and Operation
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

SF 2460 University of Minnesota Football Stadium
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

SF 762 Clean Water Legacy Act
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Nay

SF 2460 University of Minnesota Football Stadium
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HF 1443 Voter Registration Photo ID
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HF 4142 Property Tax - Rebate Checks
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 2480A99 Referendum for Hennepin County Sales Tax Amendment
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Nay

HF 2480 Baseball Stadium Financing, Construction, and Operation
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SF 2734 Sales Tax Dedicated to the Environment and the Arts Constitutional Amendment
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HF 2680 Teacher Training Program for Qualified Professionals Provided
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

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