OVERVIEW
Minnesota Historical Society
Penny, Timothy J., 1951-.
Timothy J. Penny Congressional and Legislative
papers.
1977-1994 (bulk 1983-1994).
Correspondence, memoranda, notes, press
releases, speech scripts, bill drafts, questionnaires, voting records and
scorecards, legislative profiles, and other related material documenting
Timothy J. Penny's service (1983-1994) in the U.S. Congress as a representative
of southeastern Minnesota's first congressional district.
25.3 cu. ft. (26 boxes).
See [Detailed Description](a9) section for shelf
locations.
BIOGRAPHY OF TIMOTHY J.
PENNY
Timothy J. Penny was born November 19, 1951, the third of seven
children born to Jay and Donna Penny. His father's family were of Scotch-Irish
descent and had come to Minnesota from Delaware in the mid-1800s. His mother's
family, the Haukooses, emigrated from Norway in the 1870s. Penny grew up on a
farm in Mansfield Township, located in Freeborn County, Minnesota, where the
family raised soybeans, corn, dairy cows, hogs, chickens, and sheep until his
grandfather sold the bulk of the acreage in the late 1960s. As the Pennys were
one of the few Democratic-Farmer-Labor families in a town of Republicans, Tim
was politically aware from an early age. His mother was active in local DFL
politics and encouraged his political awareness.
After graduating from Kiester High School in 1969, Penny attended
Winona State College as a political science major. It was during his college
years that Penny held his first office, that of student body president. Penny's
formal entry into politics was not long delayed. At age twenty-four he
successfully ran for the state Senate, becoming the first Democrat to represent
his district in fifty years. After serving six years in the state government,
Penny went on to represent Minnesota's first congressional district. In winning
the seat in Congress, Penny became the first Democrat to represent Minnesota's
conservative southeastern district in ninety years.
Penny, a self-described "raging moderate," soon showed that he was not
afraid to go against the party grain. He gained a reputation as somewhat of a
troublemaker in the party, often voting with Republicans on spending and other
budget issues. Committee assignments included Agriculture, Veterans Affairs,
and the Select Committee on Hunger. He served as chair of the Subcommittee on
Foreign Agriculture and Hunger (1993-1994). His frequent run-ins with the
Democratic House leadership over appropriations bills are said to have cost him
a much coveted seat on the powerful Ways and Means Committee.
In addition to agriculture, rural development, and trade, Penny's
major area of interest and influence was fiscal policy, particularly the fight
against deficit spending and "pork-barrel" politics. As a newcomer in Congress
Penny persuaded his fellow freshmen to form a task force on the budget, which
later evolved into the Democratic Budget Group. The group gained significant
influence, frequently attracting top executive branch policymakers to its
Wednesday morning meetings. Despite his disappointment with President Clinton's
failure to follow through with the painful cuts Penny believed necessary to
significantly reduce the federal deficit, he was instrumental in getting the
president's 1993 budget passed. Not long afterwards, worn out by what he
described as the hypocrisy, excessive partisanship, and manipulation rife in
Washington politics, Penny announced his decision not to run for re-election in
1994. Penny also cited his and his wife Barbara's desire that his four
children--Jamison, Joseph, Molly, and Marcus-- live and go to school
Minnesota.
After giving up his congressional seat Penny returned to southeastern
Minnesota with his family. He took positions teaching at the University of
Minnesota's Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs and the University of St.
Thomas, in addition to consulting for Himle Horner, Inc., a public relations
firm. Penny also joined the board of the Concord Coalition, the organization
founded by former senators Paul Tsongas and Warren Rudman and dedicated to
achieving a balanced federal budget. He became chair of the Minnesota
Democratic Leadership Council and is a lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserves.
In 1995 Penny, with the help of Washington Times
reporter Major Garrett, wrote Common Cents: A Retiring
Six-Term Congressman Reveals How Congress Really Works--And What We Must Do to
Fix it.
Biographical information in this sketch came from newspaper and
magazine articles on Penny, the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs'
world wide web site, and from the collection.
SCOPE AND CONTENTS
The Timothy J. Penny congressional and legislative papers include
correspondence, memoranda, notes, press releases, speeches, bill drafts,
questionnaires, legislative profiles, and other related material documenting
the congressional career of Penny and, to a lesser extent, his service in the
Minnesota State Senate during the 1980s and early 1990s.
"Handwritten correspondence" comprises the bulk of the correspondence
series and consists of short notes handwritten on official stationery, mostly
to other legislators and members of government. While a great deal of this
material is of a superficial nature, their informal style is sometimes more
revealing than formal correspondence. While the collection contains very little
constituent correspondence, reports (1986-1994), along with a study prepared by
an intern in 1994, provide an outline and analysis of Penny's incoming
correspondence from constituents and its effect on decision-making in his
office.
Other correspondence in the collection includes mass mailings
(1989-1993) on various topics sent to individuals and organizations on various
mailing lists maintained by Penny's office, and eleven folders of undated
standard texts composed for response to often asked questions. In addition
there is a large group of letters from businesses, organizations, members of
Congress, presidents, and other individuals thanking Penny for meetings,
support of certain legislation, receptions, and other matters. Also included in
the correspondence series are delegation letters co-signed by Penny on a
variety of issues. These letters are arranged by Congress and then
alphabetically by topic (agriculture - veterans affairs).
Legislation/Issue files make up another major portion of the
collection. These files, arranged alphabetically by topic, include draft bills,
correspondence, conference and other reports, hearings, memoranda, notes, and
other related papers on a variety of subjects from 1986 to 1994 (bulk
1989-1994). Major topics are agriculture and budget-related issues, including
rescissions and amendments to appropriations bills (particularly the
Penny-Kasich Amendment of 1993), "porkbusting," and the Democratic Budget Study
Group, which Penny founded and chaired. Also of interest are files extensively
documenting the closing of the University of Minnesota at Waseca and the
subsequent proposal to turn the facility into a prison. A number of files
entitled "democracy legislation" concern election issues and document Penny's
efforts to improve ballot access for minor political parties and voter
registration procedures.
A highlight of the collection is the series of voting records and
ratings, including official records of Penny's legislative activity for most of
his years in Congress, as well as a large collection of questionnaires,
ratings, and scorecards compiled by various lobbying and special-interest
groups. These materials provide a helpful picture of Penny's position on a
variety of issues, both objectively and through the eyes of various partisan
groups.
Publicity-related materials, such as press releases, newspaper
clippings, and speech scripts, make up the bulk of the remainder of the
collection. Newspaper clippings, some of which are photocopied and some of
which are originals still in envelopes sent by clipping services, are organized
chronologically by month. The period just following Penny's August, 1993
decision not to run again for Congress is particularly well documented. The
collection also includes a nearly complete set of Penny's schedules, files from
his tenure as chair of the Foreign Agriculture and Hunger Subcommittee, and
small groups of his election campaign materials and briefing books.
Materials documenting Penny's service in the Minnesota State Senate
consist only of voting records surveys from 1977-1979 and 1981-1982.
ARRANGEMENT
These records are divided into the following two sections:
- Congressional Papers
- State Legislature Records
The majority of the collection concerns Penny's years as a
representative to the U.S. Congress for Minnesota's first congressional
district (1983-1994). Major segments of the congressional papers include
correspondence, legislation/issue files, voting records and ratings, and
publicity materials.
RELATED MATERIALS
Penny's book, Common Cents: A Retiring
Six-Term Congressman Reveals How Congress Really Works--And What We Must Do to
Fix It (with Major Garrett, 1995) is separately cataloged in the
Minnesota Historical Society book collection.
Campaign files and sound and visual materials are in the collections
of Winona State University, Winona, Minnesota.
CATALOG HEADINGS
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.
Topics:
Agricultural development projects.
Agricultural law and legislation.
Agricultural price supports.
Budget -- Law and legislation -- United States.
Budget deficits.
Budget process.
Deficit financing.
Family farms -- Law and legislation.
Prisons -- Minnesota.
Place:
United States -- Politics and government.
Persons:
Brockman, William F.
Bush, George, 1924-.
Clinton, Bill, 1946-.
Wellstone, Paul David.
Organizations:
Americans for Generational Equity.
Citizens Against Government Waste.
Democratic Budget Study Group.
Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.
Porkbusters Coalition.
United States. Congress -- Appropriations and
expenditures.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Agriculture.
Subcommittee on Foreign Agriculture and Hunger.
University of Minnesota, Waseca.
Occupation:
Legislators -- United States.
Types of Documentation:
Audio tapes.
Speeches.
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Restrictions:
Materials in this collection are restricted to use by researchers
with written permission from the donor, until the year 2020. Please consult the
reference staff for additional information.
Press releases, newspaper clippings, commonly available
publications, and like material of a public nature in the collection are
excluded from these restrictions.
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item and/or series
here]. Timothy J. Penny His Congressional and Legislative Papers.
Minnesota Historical Society.
See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional
examples.
Accession Information:
Accession number: 15,194
Processing Information:
Processed by: Lara D. Friedman, January, 1997
Catalog ID number: 09-00042113
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
RESTRICTED
Congressional Papers:
143.J.7.5B
1
Correspondence:
Constituent Correspondence Reports, 1986-1994.
3 folders.
Constituent Mail Study, 1994.
Handwritten Correspondence, 1985-1988.
13 folders.
143.J.7.6F
2
Handwritten Correspondence, 1988-July 1989.
17 folders.
143.J.7.7B
3
Handwritten Correspondence, August 1989-August 1991.
17 folders.
143.J.7.8F
4
Handwritten Correspondence, September 1991-June 1993.
15 folders.
143.J.7.9B
5
Handwritten Correspondence, July 1993-December 1993.
4 folders.
Mass Mailings, 1989-1993.
11 folders.
Computer Letters, 1992-1993.
2 folders.
Standard Texts: Agriculture, undated.
143.J.7.10F
6
Standard Texts: Agriculture - Veterans Affairs.
10 folders.
Computer Subject and Affiliation Codes.
VIP Correspondence, 1984, 1989-1994.
2 folders.
Thank-yous From Businesses, Organizations, Members of
Congress, Presidents, and Other Individuals for Meetings, Votes, Etc.,
1988-1989.
7 folders.
151.I.9.1B
7
Thank-yous From Businesses, Organizations, Members of
Congress, Presidents, and Other Individuals for Meetings, Votes, Etc.,
1989/90-1993/94.
10 folders.
Retirement Letters, 1993-1994.
4 folders.
Letters Co-signed:
Agriculture - Foreign Affairs, 1989-1990 (101st
Congress).
8 folders.
151.I.9.2F
8
Health - Veterans Affairs, 1989-1990 (101st
Congress).
3 folders.
Agriculture - Veterans Affairs, 1991-1992 (102nd
Congress).
7 folders.
Miscellaneous, 1991-1992 (102nd Congress).
2 folders.
Agriculture - Transportation, 1993-1994 (103rd
Congress).
3 folders.
Miscellaneous, 1993-1994 (103rd Congress).
2 folders.
Foreign Agriculture and Hunger Subcommittee:
Correspondence, 1993-1994.
3 folders.
Delegation Letters, 1993-1994.
Memos to Subcommittee Members, 1993-1994.
2 folders.
Staff Member Memos to Penny, 1993-1994.
Subcommittee Press Releases, 1993-1994.
Statements, Agendas, Reports, and Other Miscellaneous
Papers, 1993-1994.
2 folders.
151.I.9.3B
9
Hearings, 1993-1994.
3 folders.
Will Brockman Files:
Memos, 1994.
Cargo Preference Hearing, 1994.
Cuba Hearing/Follow Up, 1994.
Entitlements Commission, 1994.
1995 Farm Bill Reform Options, 1994.
Federal Crop Insurance Reform, 1994.
GATT/Uruguay Round Agreement, 1994.
High Value Exports: Hearing, 1994.
151.I.9.3B
9
Hunger Briefings and Follow-Up, 1994.
Minneapolis Trade Conference, 1994.
Russia/FSU Assistance, 1994.
Amendments, 1991.
Legislation and Cosponsorship: Agriculture - Women and
Miscellaneous, 1985-1986 (99th Congress).
14 folders.
Legislation/Issues:
A-Z Rule (H. Res 445), 1994.
AARC (Alternative Agriculture Research
Commercialization Board), 1991-1993.
Abortion, undated and 1991-1992.
Across-the-Board Budget Freeze, 1985.
151.I.9.4F
10
A.G.E. (Americans For Generational Equity), 1987-1991.
3 folders.
Agent Orange, 1990-1991.
Agriculture Appropriations, FY 1994.
Agriculture Chemicals Association, 1993.
Agriculture Credit Improvement Act, 1992.
Agriculture Export Enhancement, 1990.
Agriculture Issues, 1993.
Agriculture Market Promotion Amendments, 1992.
Agricultural Research Commercialization Act (H.R.
4651), 1987-1988.
AID (Agency of International Development) and
Agriculture, 1994.
151.I.9.4F
10
Alaska Supercomputer, 1991-1992.
Allard-Penny: Healthcare "On-Budget," 1994.
Ambazonia, 1994.
Andrews-Penny-Furse Amendment, 1993.
Appropriation Bills and Amendments, FY 1994.
Atomic Veterans Compensation Act, 1987.
Azerbaijan, 1993-1994.
Asia, 1993.
B-2 Bomber, 1994.
Balanced Budget Enforcement Act (H.R. 998), 1993.
Balanced Budget Amendment, 1994.
151.I.9.4F
10
Beginning Farmer Program, 1992-1994.
"Bill of Hope" Farm Bill, 1985.
Brady Bill, 1993.
Budget Amendments, 1992-1993.
4 folders.
Budget Bill, 1993.
Budget Reform Amendments, 1994.
Budget Resolution, 1989.
Budget Resolution, FY 1995.
2 folders.
Butter Sale to USSR and Related Agricultural Import
Issues, 1989-1993.
151.I.9.5B
11
C-17 Cargo Plane, 1994.
California Earthquake Supplemental, 1994.
Cargo Preference, 1993.
Chief Financial Officer (CFO), 1990-1991.
Child Pornography, 1992-1994.
Children's Health Plan, 1991.
Children's Survival Assistance Program, 1989.
Civil Rights, 1987-1988.
Citizens Jury on Welfare Reform, 1994.
Clinton Appointments, 1992-1994.
2 folders.
"Code of Conduct" Bill, 1994.
Commerce-Justice-State Appropriations, FY1993-FY1995.
3 folders.
151.I.9.5B
11
Committee Funding, 1992.
Common Cents Budget Reform Act, (H.R. 4434),
1994.
Congressional Budget Act Amendments (H.R. 5247),
1984.
Congressional Reform, 1993.
Corn Issues, 1992-1993.
Crime Bill, 1993-1994.
Crime Bill and Unicor, 1990.
Dairy Issues, 1992.
Dear Colleagues, 1989-1991.
Debates Bill, 1992-1993.
Debt Limit, 1987.
Deming, Dr. W. Edwards, 1993.
"Democracy" Legislation [election-related issues],
1991-1993.
5 folders.
151.I.9.6F
12
Democratic Budget Study Group:
Correspondence, Member Lists, Meeting Notices, and
Other Miscellaneous Papers, 1989-1994.
Meeting Notes, 1990-1994.
4 folders.
Democratic Conference, March 1989.
Democratic Leadership Council, 1989-1991.
3 folders.
"Dollars for Scholars" (H.R. 1560), 1993.
Earthquake Aid (Amendment to H.R. 3735), 1994.
Energy and Water Appropriations, FY1994.
Entitlement Commission, 1994.
Entitlement Conference, 1993.
Exon-Grassley Budget Reduction, 1994.
151.I.9.6F
12
Espy Visit, February, 1993.
Ethanol, 1990-1993.
Expedited Consideration of Proposed Rescissions Act
(H.R. 1013), 1993.
Expedited Rescission (H.R. 4600), 1994.
F-15 Sale to Saudi Arabia, 1992.
Fair Labor Standards Act, 1989.
Family and Medical Leave, 1990-1991.
Farm Bill (P.L. 480) Amendments, 1990.
Farm Program Payment Limitations Reform Act, 1991,
1993.
Farmers Home Administration, 1987.
Federal Buyout Amendment, 1994.
Federal Crop Insurance Reform Act, 1994.
151.I.9.6F
12
Federal Spending (H. Con. Res. 128), 1991.
Federal State Equal Rate Act (H.R. 5133), 1990.
Feinstein Assault Weapons, 1994.
Fireside Chats, 1990-1991.
Fiscal Responsibility Act (H.R. 3958), 1994.
Flood Disaster, 1993.
Food Aid to Central America, 1989.
Food for Emerging Democracies Act, 1991.
Foreign Operations Appropriations Act (2% Reduction
Amendment), FY1991.
Foreign Operations Appropriations, FY1993.
Franking Reform, 1989.
Government Waste Task Force, 1991.
Gulf War: Penny-Frank Pay-Go, 1991.
Gulf War (H. Con. Res. 37), 1991.
151.I.9.7B
13
Haiti, 1992-1994.
Head Start Expansion Amendments Act, 1989.
Health Care Conference, 1989.
Health Care Reform, 1993-1994.
High Risk Occupational Disease Notification and
Prevention Act (H.R. 162), 1987.
Higher Education Amendments: Conference Report,
1992.
House Bank Scandal, 1992.
Houston Flood Control, 1994.
Hunger Committee, 1989.
Hurricane Andrew, 1992.
Inauguration, 1993.
Interior Appropriations, FY1992, FY1994.
International Peace and Security Resolution,
1992.
151.I.9.7B
13
International Woman and Child Health Act (H.R. 5507),
1992.
Iraqi Children (H. Con. Res. 168), 1991.
Israel Trip, January 1990.
Joint Economic Committee (JEC), 1990, 1992.
2 folders.
Lead . . . or Leave, 1992.
Legislative Branch Appropriations, FY1994.
Line Item Rescissions, 1991.
Line Item Veto Legislation, 1991.
Low Test Weight Corn, 1992.
Mainstream Forum, 1993.
Maternity Leave Act of 1989.
Middle East Peace and Development Act, 1994.
Midwest Flood, 1993.
151.I.9.7B
13
Minimum Wage Letters, 1989.
Minnesota Conference on Jobs and Economic Growth,
1988.
Minnesota Democratic Leadership Council,
1993-1994.
Minnesota Family Investment Plan Cash Out Food Stamps,
1989.
Montgomery G.I. Bill Amendments (H.R. 1358),
1989.
NAFTA, 1993.
National Endowment for Democracy, 1993-1994.
National Service, 1990-1991.
Nicaragua, 1991-1994.
151.I.9.7B
13
Nicaragua Trip, August 1987.
Non-Traditional Students Assistance Act (H.R. 3354),
1991.
Nuclear Wastes Disposal, 1992-1993.
PAYGO Legislation, 1986-1987.
Payment Conditions (H.R. 4019), 1991.
Penny-Dorgan Agriculture Bill, 1987.
Persian Gulf Vets (H.R. 476), 1993.
Penny-Kasich Amendment, 1993.
151.I.9.8F
14
Penny-Kasich Amendment, 1993
6 folders.
Penny-Tauke Amendments, 1987-1988.
2 folders.
Pork Issues, 1989-1993.
Porkbusters Coalition, 1992.
Porkbusters Legislation, 1991-1992.
Porkbusters Manual, 1993.
Rochester Flood Control, 1986-1992.
2 folders.
Russia, 1993.
Russia Credit Worthiness, 1993.
School of the Americas, 1994.
Seawolf Submarine, 1994.
Sixteen-Year-Old Vote (H. J. Res. 521),
1992-1993.
151.I.9.8F
14
Small Business Administration Amendment, 1993.
Social Security Bills, pre-1994.
Social Security Bills, 1994.
Social Security Trust Fund, 1989-1990.
Southern Minnesota Conference on Rural Economic
Development, 1990.
Soviet Union Trip, January 1991.
Space Station, 1991-1994.
"Squash It" Program, 1994.
Student Loan Default Program, 1988.
Super Conducting Super Collider, 1991.
Tactical Missile Defense, 1991.
Teacher Internship Program, 1986, 1990.
Third Party Reimbursements (H.R. 1324, H.R. 4018),
1991.
151.I.9.9B
15
Trade Conference ["A New Paradigm of Global
Interdependence"], February 1994.
Transportation Appropriations, FY1994-FY1995.
2 folders.
Treasury-Postal Appropriations, FY1994-FY1995.
2 folders.
Trident II (D-5) Missile (H.R. 4229), 1992.
Trident II (D-5) Missile (H.R. 790), 1993.
Uniformed Services Employment (H.R. 1578), 1991.
United Nations Peacekeeping Financing Legislation,
1993.
United Nations Reform (H. Res. 33), 1993.
United Nations Trip, 1994.University of Minnesota
Waseca Closing, 1992.
4 folders.
Value-Added Agricultural Products, 1991.
Vegetable Oil Promotion Act (H.R. 4817), 1994.
Veterans Education and Employment Act (H.R. 180),
1991.
Veterans Health Administration Workforce Reduction
Exemption Act (H.R. 4013), 1994.
Walters Post Office, 1994.
151.I.9.10F
16
Waseca Prison:
Correspondence, Reports, and Other Miscellaneous
Papers, 1992-1994.
5 folders.
"Support and Efforts for a Federal Prison," 1993.
2 folders.
Draft Environmental Impact Statement, April
1994.
Final Environmental Impact Statement, October 1994.
2 folders.
Wheat Issues, 1993.
Workplace Fairness Act (H.R. 5), 1991.
World Trade Conference, June 1994.
151.I.9.10F
16
Campaign-Related Materials:
"Penny for Congress" Audio Cassette Tape, 1984; Poll
Statement, [1982?].
Statement of Candidacy, 1992.
D.C. Fundraiser, 1992.
Office Policy and procedures, 1987-1988.
Voting Records and Ratings:
Record Votes:
98th Congress, 1st Session, 1983.
2 folders.
98th Congress, 2nd Session, 1984.
2 folders.
99th Congress, 2nd Session, 1986.
101st Congress, 2nd Session, 1990.
2 folders.
Personal Voting Record, 98th Congress, 1983-1984.
Legislative Activity Guides:
99th Congress, 1st Session, 1985.
99th Congress, 2nd Session, 1986.
102nd Congress, 1991-1992.
151.I.9.11B
17
103rd Congress, 1993-1994.
Legislative Profiles, 1983-1986, 1993-1994.
6 folders.
Summary of Legislative Activity in Agriculture,
1991.
Accomplishments, 102nd Congress, 1991-1992.
Questionnaires:
Budget, 1985.
Miscellaneous, 1990, 1992.
2 folders.
Ratings and Scorecards:
98th Congress, 1983-1984.
4 folders.
99th Congress, 1985-1986.
2 folders.
151.I.9.12F
18
99th Congress, 1985-1986.
100th Congress, 1987-1988.
3 folders.
101st Congress, 1989-1990.
3 folders.
102nd Congress, 1991-1992.
3 folders.
103rd Congress, 1993-1994.
2 folders.
Budget Voting Record, 1983-1994.
Energy/Nuclear Voting Record, 1987-1993.
Tax Voting Record, 1983-1992.
Briefing Books:
Town Meetings: Agriculture - Women's Issues, May 1983.
2 folders.
Education Tour, October 1983.
151.I.9.13B
19
Education Tour, February 1984.
2 folders.
Schedules:
Appointment Book, 1984. 1 volume.
Schedule Printouts, 1985-1991.
12 folders.
151.I.9.14F
20
Schedule Printouts, 1991-1994.
10 folders.
Publicity:
Press Releases, 1983-1987, 1991-1994.
12 folders.
151.I.10.1B
21
Speeches, undated and 1977-1994.
13 folders.
Floor Statements, 1983-1987.
Scrapbooks, 1988-1990.
3 folders.
151.I.10.2F
22
Newsletters, undated and 1983-1987.
Newspaper Clippings, September 1982-December 1984.
16 folders.
151.I.10.3B
23
Newspaper Clippings, January 1985-November 1985, June
1990-June 1991.
18 folders.
151.I.10.4F
24
Newspaper Clippings, July 1991-August 1993.
18 folders.
151.I.10.5B
25
Newspaper Clippings, August 1993-November 1994.
14 folders.
Newspaper Clippings by Topic:
Farm Bill, 1991.
Flood, 1993.
Iraq, 1991.
NAFTA, 1993.
State Legislature Records:
151.I.10.6F
26
Senate Voting Records Survey, 1977-1979, 1981-1982.
3 folders.