Michelle Fischbach
Encyclopedia
Michelle L. Fischbach is a Minnesota
politician, a member and the current president of the Minnesota Senate
, representing District 14, which includes portions of Benton
and Stearns
counties in the west central part of the state. Prior to the 2002 redistricting
, the district also included portions of Morrison
and Pope
counties. A Republican
, she was first elected to the Senate in a 1996 special election held after the resignation of Senator Joe Bertram, Sr. She was re-elected in the Fall 1996 general election and, again, in 2000, 2002, 2006 and 2010. She was an assistant minority leader
from 2001 to 2002 and from 2007 to 2008, and deputy minority leader from 2009 to 2010. Since January 2011, she has served as senate president, becoming the first woman to do so.
Fischbach is currently a member of the Senate's Finance Committee, the Health, Housing and Family Security Committee, and the Transportation Committee. She also serves on the Finance subcommittees for the Economic Development and Housing Budget Division, the Health and Human Services Budget Division, and the Transportation Budget and Policy Division, on the Finance-Economic Development and Housing Budget Division with Health, Housing and Family Security Subcommittee for Housing, and on the Transportation Subcommittee for Airways, Waterways and Railways.
Fischbach attended Woodbury High School
in Woodbury
, then attended college at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph
from 1984 to 1986 and, later, at St. Cloud State University
in St. Cloud
, where she received a B.A.
in political science and economics in 1989. She served on the Paynesville
City Council from 1995 to 1996. She is married to Scott Fischbach, who is executive director of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life
. She and her husband live in Paynseville and are the parents of two children.
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
politician, a member and the current president of the Minnesota Senate
Minnesota Senate
The Minnesota Senate is the upper house in the Minnesota Legislature. There are 67 members, half as many as are in the Minnesota House of Representatives. In terms of membership, it is the largest upper house of any state legislature. Each Senate district in the state includes an A and B House...
, representing District 14, which includes portions of Benton
Benton County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 34,226 people, 13,065 households, and 8,518 families residing in the county. The population density was 84 people per square mile . There were 13,460 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile...
and Stearns
Stearns County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 133,166 people, 47,604 households, and 32,132 families residing in the county. The population density was 99 people per square mile . There were 50,291 housing units at an average density of 37 per square mile...
counties in the west central part of the state. Prior to the 2002 redistricting
Redistricting
Redistricting is the process of drawing United States electoral district boundaries, often in response to population changes determined by the results of the decennial census. In 36 states, the state legislature has primary responsibility for creating a redistricting plan, in many cases subject to...
, the district also included portions of Morrison
Morrison County, Minnesota
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 31,712 people, 11,816 households, and 8,460 families residing in the county. The population density was 28 people per square mile . There were 13,870 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile...
and Pope
Pope County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,236 people, 4,513 households, and 3,064 families residing in the county. The population density was 17 people per square mile . There were 5,827 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile...
counties. A Republican
Republican Party of Minnesota
The Republican Party of Minnesota is the Minnesota branch of the United States Republican Party. Elected by the party’s state central committee in June 2009, its chairman is Tony Sutton, and its deputy-chairman is Michael Brodkorb.-Early history:...
, she was first elected to the Senate in a 1996 special election held after the resignation of Senator Joe Bertram, Sr. She was re-elected in the Fall 1996 general election and, again, in 2000, 2002, 2006 and 2010. She was an assistant minority leader
Minority leader
In U.S. politics, the minority leader is the floor leader of the second largest caucus in a legislative body. Given the two-party nature of the U.S. system, the minority leader is almost inevitably either a Republican or a Democrat, with their counterpart being of the opposite party. The position...
from 2001 to 2002 and from 2007 to 2008, and deputy minority leader from 2009 to 2010. Since January 2011, she has served as senate president, becoming the first woman to do so.
Fischbach is currently a member of the Senate's Finance Committee, the Health, Housing and Family Security Committee, and the Transportation Committee. She also serves on the Finance subcommittees for the Economic Development and Housing Budget Division, the Health and Human Services Budget Division, and the Transportation Budget and Policy Division, on the Finance-Economic Development and Housing Budget Division with Health, Housing and Family Security Subcommittee for Housing, and on the Transportation Subcommittee for Airways, Waterways and Railways.
Fischbach attended Woodbury High School
Woodbury High School (Minnesota)
Woodbury Senior High School is located in Woodbury, Minnesota. In the past, Woodbury High School did consist of grades 10th through 12th, but it recently changed to 9th through 12th grade. It is part of the South Washington County School District. The school colors are royal blue and white, and the...
in Woodbury
Woodbury, Minnesota
Woodbury is a city in Washington County, Minnesota, United States, and is a suburb of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. It is situated east of Saint Paul along Interstate 94...
, then attended college at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph
St. Joseph, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,681 people, 1,120 households, and 712 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,517.4 people per square mile . There were 1,147 housing units at an average density of 616.8 per square mile...
from 1984 to 1986 and, later, at St. Cloud State University
St. Cloud State University
St. Cloud State University is a four-year public university founded in 1869 on the banks of the Mississippi River in St. Cloud, Minnesota, United States. The university is the largest member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system which is the largest single provider of higher...
in St. Cloud
St. Cloud, Minnesota
St. Cloud is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the largest population center in the state's central region. The population was 65,842 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Stearns County...
, where she received a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in political science and economics in 1989. She served on the Paynesville
Paynesville, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,267 people, 934 households, and 594 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,715.2 people per square mile . There were 984 housing units at an average density of 744.5 per square mile...
City Council from 1995 to 1996. She is married to Scott Fischbach, who is executive director of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life
Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life
Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life is the oldest and largest right-to-life/pro-life organization in Minnesota and an affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee...
. She and her husband live in Paynseville and are the parents of two children.