Legislative Role

The Senate DFL Caucus represents Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party views on Minnesota legislative policy.

Functions and Services

Research, media announcements, and communications with Senators' constituents are provided by this office.

Key Resources

Resource	Description
DFL Caucus Senators	View the list of Senators that are members of or caucus with the DFL Caucus
DFL Leadership	View the list of leadership positions.

Timeline/Calendar Highlights

Date timeline	Description
July 1	State fiscal year begins each year, and in odd-numbered years, state fiscal biennium begins.
July through December	Groundwork is laid for upcoming legislative session. Ongoing budget activity, budget-related events, trends, and issues are analyzed for their fiscal policy implications. Budget divisions, committees, and legislative commissions hold special meetings to examine pending issues.
End of November	Department of Finance issues November Forecast of state revenues and expenditures.
Beginning of January	Legislature convenes, begins official budget hearings and committee hearings to discuss pertinent issues and bills. Staff drafts bills and amendments upon request of Senators.
Fourth Tuesday in January in odd-numbered years, or third Tuesday in February, if a new governor has just been elected	Governor issues detailed budget for following biennium.
Mid February	Governor issues detailed budget and policy bills for the next biennium.
End of February	Department of Finance issues February Forecast of state revenues and expenditures.
March to June	Legislature finishes committee and budget hearings, bills are debated and voted on in floor sessions, and conference committees meet to finalize bills. Governor signs or vetoes legislation.
Monday following third Saturday in May	Constitution mandates end of regular session.

Staff List

A B C E F G H J K L M N P R S T V W

A

Name	Title	Office	Phone Number
Anderson Ellen	Minority Communications Director	2228 MSB	651.296.4150

B

Name	Title	Office	Phone Number
Bakk Laura	Legislative Assistant	2235 MSB	651.296.8017
Barone Marcus	Legislative Assistant	2215 MSB	651.297.8065
Bayerl Julie	Legislative Assistant	2201 MSB	651.296.9248
Berglund Annie	Legislative Assistant	2325 MSB	651.296.4334
Broton Krista	Assistant Research Director	G300 Capitol	651.296.7423
Burke Anna	Researcher	G300 MSB	651.296.7422

C

Name	Title	Office	Phone Number
Callais Cynthia	Page	2214 MSB	651.296.8080
Cavert Elspeth	Legislative Assistant	2401 MSB	651.296.5645
Clinton Jacque	Researcher	G300 MSB	651.296.1113
Coulter Nathan	Legislative Assistant	2323 MSB	651.297.8061

E

Name	Title	Office	Phone Number
Elhard Diana	Legislative Assistant	2213 MSB	651.296.4191
Elling Danna	Researcher	G300 MSB	651.296.7089
Emmerich J.W.	Legislative Assistant	2415 MSB	651.296.6153

F

Name	Title	Office	Phone Number
Farrington Mackenzie	Legislative Assistant	2233 MSB	651.296.4120
Freeman William	Page	2214 MSB	651.296.8080

G

Name	Title	Office	Phone Number
Gross David	Legislative Assistant	2403 MSB	651.296.8869
Gunville Gloria	Researcher	G300 MSB	651.296.9271

H

Name	Title	Office	Phone Number
Hamilton Cearah	Legislative Assistant	2303 MSB	651.296.9246
Hoffman Kyle	Legislative Assistant	2207 MSB	651.297.8073
Hunter Shannon	Media Relations Specialist	G300 MSB	651.296.3521

J

Name	Title	Office	Phone Number
Janezich Craig	Researcher	G300 MSB	651.296.7425
Johnston Beth	Legislative Assistant	2203 MSB	651.296.7809

K

Name	Title	Office	Phone Number
Kaplan Nicole	Legislative Assistant	2301 MSB	651.296.5931
Kline Tyler	Legislative Assistant	2217 MSB	651.296.2889
Kringler Robert	Legislative Assistant	2211 MSB	651.296.3205
Kukielka Thomas	DFL Chief of Staff	2242 MSB	651.296.9384

L

Name	Title	Office	Phone Number
Livingston Nancy	Legislative Assistant	2219 MSB	651.296.6820
Lunzer Bill	Legislative Assistant	2411 MSB	651.296.2556

M

Name	Title	Office	Phone Number
Majerus Ryan	Researcher	G300 MSB	651.296.0178
Morgan Chris	Legislative Assistant	2417 MSB	651.296.4188

N

Name	Title	Office	Phone Number
Ney Josh	Legislative Assistant	2413 MSB	651.296.7633

P

Name	Title	Office	Phone Number
Parker Kevin	Legislative Assistant	2231 MSB	651.296.4154
Purtell Michael	Legislative Assistant	2409 MSB	651.296.4370

R

Name	Title	Office	Phone Number
Runquist Christopher	Executive Assistant	2234 MSB	651.296.0265
Russell Isaac	Legislative Assistant	2227 MSB	651.296.4166

S

Name	Title	Office	Phone Number
Sanchez Santoyo Claudia	Legislative Assistant	2225 MSB	651.296.4274
Shea Larissa	Legislative Assistant	2221 MSB	651.296.8881
Smaby Kendall	Legislative Assistant	2229 MSB	651.296.6238
Spiteri Emily	Legislative Assistant	3411 MSB	651.297.8060

T

Name	Title	Office	Phone Number
Tommerdahl Cassie	Legislative Assistant	2321 MSB	651.296.5537

V

Name	Title	Office	Phone Number
Vang Hnuchee	Legislative Assistant	3413 MSB	651.296.5285
Verma Ankita	Legislative Assistant	2205 MSB	651.296.1802
Vilt Skyler	Media Relations Specialist	G300 MSB	651.296.1939

W

Name	Title	Office	Phone Number
Wegleitner Jackie	Director Research	G300 MSB	651.296.0475
Weiner Greg	Legislative Assistant	2319 MSB	651.296.1314