Phyllis Kahn
| Phyllis Kahn | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 59B district |
|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 2, 1973 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 23, 1937 Brooklyn, New York |
| Political party | Democratic Farmer Labor Party |
| Spouse(s) | Donald |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Alma mater | Cornell University Harvard University Princeton University Yale University |
| Profession | legislator, genetics research |
| Religion | Jewish |
Phyllis Kahn (born March 23, 1937, in Brooklyn, New York) is a retired professor of Biophysics and a DFL member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, serving District 59B, which includes portions of the city of Minneapolis in Hennepin County, which is in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.[1] Educated at Cornell (B.A. in Physics), Yale (Ph.D. in Biophysics), and Harvard (M.P.A.) Universities, she has been a long-time advocate for education, health care and medical technology, agriculture and the natural environment, and human rights, particularly for senior citizens and women.
Kahn was first elected to represent her area of Minneapolis in 1972 and has continuously served since that time, most recently winning re-election in 2010.[2] She serves as the DFL-Lead (ranking minority member) of the State Government Finance Committee, and serves on the Veterans Services Division, and the Ways and Means committee.[1]
In 2004, Kahn was charged with theft for removal of Republican campaign literature from doorsteps of several houses. However, the charges were dropped when she agreed to pay a $200 fine.[3]
Kahn has been a leading opponent of efforts by DeLaSalle High School (Minneapolis) to construct an athletic field on its campus in her neighborhood on Nicollet Island. She has been an outspoken critic of the field plan and has stated her views vehemently and frequently at public hearings. Ultimately, the school was allowed to build the field.
Kahn has a reputation for advocating positions not taken by many others. She was the chief author and advocate of the 1975 Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act; one of the first laws enacted anywhere in the world banning the smoking of tobacco in public places. This law has been used as a template for virtually all later legislation to protect the public from "second hand smoke," and was updated and expanded in 2005.[4] In 1989, she proposed reducing the voting age in Minnesota to 12 years. She said "history has shown us that when a segment of society is denied the right to vote, all the rights of that segment of society are then inferior."
Kahn has also repeatedly advocated for repeal of so-called "Blue Laws," which forbid liquor stores from operating on Sundays and some holidays.
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Legislator Record - Kahn, Phyllis L". Leg.state.mn.us. http://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail.asp?ID=10302. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
- ^ http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20101102/ElecRslts.asp?M=LG&R=ALL&LD=59B
- ^ "Minnesota Democrats Exposed ©". Minnesotademocratsexposed.com. 2004-07-23. http://www.minnesotademocratsexposed.com/2004/07/anoka-county-wont-charge-legislator-in.html. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
- ^ http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/pubs/ss/ssmciaa.htm
[edit] External links
- Living people
- 1937 births
- People from Hennepin County, Minnesota
- People from Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Members of the Minnesota House of Representatives
- Minnesota Democrats
- Cornell University alumni
- Yale University alumni
- Harvard University alumni
- Jewish American politicians
- Women in Minnesota politics
- Women state legislators in Minnesota
