Pat Piper (politician)

Patricia Kathryn "Pat" Piper (July 16, 1934 – January 31, 2016) was a Minnesota politician and member of the Minnesota Senate and the Minnesota House of Representatives. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), she represented District 27 in the Senate and 31B in the House, which includes portions of Freeborn and Mower counties in southeastern Minnesota. She was a religious education director, ecumenical resource center/consultant/teacher and workshop leader.[1]

Pat Piper
Member of the Minnesota Senate
from the 27th district
31st (1987–1993)
In office
January 6, 1987 – January 2, 2001
Preceded byTom A. Nelson
Succeeded byGrace Schwab
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 31B district
In office
January 4, 1983 – January 6, 1987
Preceded byLeo J. Reding
Succeeded byLeo J. Reding
Personal details
Born(1934-07-16)July 16, 1934
Delavan, Minnesota
DiedJanuary 31, 2016(2016-01-31) (aged 81)
Rochester, Minnesota
Political partyMinnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
ResidenceAustin, Minnesota
Alma materCollege of Saint Teresa (B.A.)
The Catholic University of America (M.A.)
Occupationlegislator

Early life, education, and career

Born in Delavan, Minnesota, Piper was one of nine children. Her father fought in World War II. Piper grew up in Blue Earth, Minnesota. She received a B.A. in elementary education from College of Saint Teresa and a B.A. in religious education from The Catholic University of America. Piper was earlier a Roman Catholic religious sister who worked as a religious education director, ecumenical resource center/consultant/teacher and workshop leader at Christian Education Center.[2]

Minnesota House of Representatives

Elections

Piper was first elected in 1982 and reelected in 1984. In 1986 she ran for State Senate instead of seeking reelection.

1984 Minnesota State Representative- House 31B[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) Pat Piper (incumbent) 9158 56.90
Republican Lee Aase 6223 38.70
1982 Minnesota State Representative- House 31B[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) Pat Piper 8798 61.73
Republican Chuck Moline 5119 35.92

Committee assignments

For the 74th Legislative Session, Piper was a part of:

  • Governmental Operations Committee
  • Governmental Operations Subcommittee: Property Tax Study Commission
  • Health and Human Services Committee
  • Health and Human Services Subcommittee: Health Care
  • Local and Urban Affairs Committee
  • Local and Urban Affairs Subcommittee: Local Government Affairs

For the 73rd Legislative Session, Piper was a part of:

  • Energy Committee
  • Energy Subcommittee: Energy and Society
  • General Legislation and Veterans Affairs Committee
  • General Legislation and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee: Gaming Division
  • Regulated Industries Committee
  • Regulated Industries Subcommittee: Beverage

Tenure

Piper represented District 31A in the Minnesota House of Representatives from January 4, 1983, to January 6, 1987 (73rd and 74th Legislative Sessions).

Minnesota Senate

Elections

Piper was elected to the Minnesota Senate in 1986, and reelected in 1990, 1992 and 1996. She lost reelection in 2000 to Grace Schwab.

2000 Minnesota State Senator- Senate 27[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) Pat Piper (incumbent) 14971 47.27
Republican Grace Schwab 16697 52.73
1996 Minnesota State Senator- Senate 27[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) Pat Piper (incumbent) 17367 54.39
Republican Brian Slowinski 12805 40.10
Libertarian Rich Osness 1217 5.51
1992 Minnesota State Senator- Senate 27[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) Pat Piper (incumbent) 20092 56.28
Republican Mel Eichstadt 14685 41.13
1990 Minnesota State Senator- Senate 31[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) Pat Piper (incumbent) 14200 62.03
Republican Mel Eichstadt 7884 34.44
1986 Minnesota State Senator- Senate 31[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) Pat Piper 13571 61.30
Republican Jack Dibble 8567 38.70

Committee assignments

For the 80th and 81st Legislative Sessions, Piper was a part of:

  • Agriculture and Rural Development Committee
  • Children, Families and Learning Committee (Chair)
  • Children, Families and Learning/Education Finance Subcommittee: Family and Early Childhood Education Budget Division (Chair)
  • Education Finance Committee
  • Health and Family Security Committee
  • Health and Family Security/Human Resources Finance Subcommittee: Health and Family Security Budget Division
  • Rules and Administration Committee
  • Rules and Administration Subcommittee: Permanent and Joint Rules
  • Rules and Administration Subcommittee: Personnel

For the 79th Legislative Session, Piper was a part of:

  • Family Services Committee (Chair)
  • Finance Committee
  • Finance Subcommittee: Finance State Government Division
  • Health Care Committee
  • Health Care Subcommittee: Health Care and Family Services Finance Division
  • Rules and Administration Committee
  • Rules and Administration Subcommittee: Permanent and Joint Rules

For the 78th Legislative Session, Piper was a part of:

  • Crime Prevention Committee
  • Family Services Committee (Chair)
  • Finance Committee
  • Finance Subcommittee: Finance State Government Division
  • Health Care Committee
  • Health Care Subcommittee: Health Care and Family Services Finance Division
  • Rules and Administration Committee

For the 77th Legislative Session, Piper was a part of:

  • Elections and Ethics Committee
  • Employment Committee
  • Energy and Public Utilities Committee
  • Finance Committee
  • Finance Subcommittee: Education Division
  • Finance Subcommittee: Health and Human Services Division
  • Health and Human Services Committee
  • Health and Human Services Subcommittee: Health Care Access Division (Chair)

For the 76th Legislative Session, Piper was a part of:

  • Employment Committee
  • Finance Committee
  • Finance Subcommittee: Health and Human Services Division
  • Health and Human Services Committee
  • Health and Human Services Subcommittee: Social Services and Government Administration (Chair)
  • Health and Human Services Subcommittee: Welfare Reform
  • Public Utilities and Energy Committee
  • Public Utilities and Energy Subcommittee: Energy
  • Public Utilities and Energy Subcommittee: Utilities (Chair)

For the 75th Legislative Session, Piper was a part of:

  • Employment Committee
  • Employment Subcommittee: Injured Workers' Compensation
  • Finance Committee
  • Finance Subcommittee: Health and Human Services Division
  • Health and Human Services Committee
  • Health and Human Services Subcommittee: Social Services and Government Administration (Chair)
  • Health and Human Services Subcommittee: Welfare Reform Division
  • Public Utilities and Energy Committee
  • Public Utilities and Energy Subcommittee: Alternative Energy

Tenure

Piper was sworn in on January 6, 1987, serving in the 75th, 76th, 77th, 78th 79th, 80th, and 81st Legislative Sessions. She championed issues such as family support, children, health, human services, and education. She was part of the "Gang of Seven" (with Linda Berglin, Paul Ogren, Duane Benson, Dave Gruenes, Brad Stanius, and Lee Greenfield) that worked to pass bipartisan Minnesota Care.[10] She also pushed legislation to help the Exol Ethanol plant in Glenville, Minnesota.[11] Piper convinced a Senate committee to join her in singing the "Itsy Bitsy Spider" song when children visited the state Capitol to testify about welfare issues.[2] She authored legislation that would require insurance companies to pay for bone marrow transplants as an experimental procedure for women with breast cancer.[12]

Post-legislative career

Piper suggested that she'd apply for the position of chaplain of the Senate, where she could give her numerous original prayers an appropriate audience. Piper also suggested she would be the appropriate candidate to become the director of a child-care center in the state Capitol.[2] Piper stayed involved in the Austin Community, running the Senate Campaign for KAAL TV 6 Anchor Terry Kelley and attending public events. She also became a board member for Minnesota Partnership for Action Against Tobacco.

Personal life

Piper was single and lived in Austin, Minnesota. She died at Cottagewood Senior Community in Rochester, Minnesota.[13]

References
  1. "Piper, Pat". Legislators Past & Present. Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  2. "Piper honored at dinner - Austin Daily Herald".
  3. "Results for State Representative District 31B" (PDF). Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  4. "Results for State Representative District 31B" (PDF). Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  5. "Results for State Senate District 27". Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original on February 4, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  6. "Results for State Senate District 27" (PDF). Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  7. "Results for State Senate District 27" (PDF). Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  8. "Results for State Senate District 31" (PDF). Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  9. "Results for State Senate District 31" (PDF). Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  10. "Bipartisanship in the 1990s delivered health-care reform in Minnesota". MinnPost.
  11. "Piper measure would aid Exol plant - Austin Daily Herald".
  12. "Piper defends women's health bill - Austin Daily Herald".
  13. "Patricia Kathryn Piper". Patricia Kathryn Piper Obituary.
Minnesota Senate
Preceded by
Tom A. Nelson		 Senator from the 27th district
31st (1987–1993)
1987–2001		 Succeeded by
Grace Schwab
Minnesota House of Representatives
Preceded by
Leo J. Reding		 Member of the House of Representatives
from the 31A district
1983-1987		 Succeeded by
Leo J. Reding
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