Mark Douglas Olson

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2004 photo of Rep. Mark Olson giving a presentation about PRT at Minneapolis City Hall with former Councilman Dean Zimmermann

Mark Douglas Olson is a Minnesota state legislator representing House District 16b. He was first elected to the seat in 1992.

Rep. Olson has served seven terms in the Minnesota House. Olson was re-elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives on Nov. 7, 2006 with 58 percent of the vote. He defeated the DFL-endorsed candidate Jim Huhtala, 10,484 to 7,538.

1 Legislative Record
- 1.1 Notable
- 1.2 Chief Author in 84th Session, 2005-06[6]
2 Domestic assault arrest
3 Other
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Legislative Record

[edit] Notable

Olson wrote legislation for and promoted personal rapid transit [1]. Olson is an opponent of conventional rail transit, particularly the Northstar commuter line[2]. Mark Olson worked with former Councilman Dean Zimmermann to pass PRT legislation in Minneapolis.

Olson's PRT amendment to the 2005 House Bill 3 (House Bonding Bill) was voted down 25 to 106[3]

Olson's PRT amendment to the 2006 Omnibus Capital Investment bill (HF2959) was voted down 26 to 107.[4]

Along with Michele Bachmann, Mark Olson attempted to pass legislation that promoted the ideas of evangelist David Barton who claims that separation of church and state in the United States is not consistent with the views of the Founders. [5]

[edit] Chief Author in 84th Session, 2005-06[6]

HF4223: Department of Transportation property appraisals required.

HF4222: Parent-school partnership pilot program established to assist children with autism spectrum disorders, and money appropriated.

HF4203: Dual purpose professional sports complex study provided.

HF4120: County-paid cremation costs provided for MFIP recipients.

HF4096: Human services service plan provisions modified.

HF4061: Advertising devices adjacent to roadways authorized under certain circumstances.

HF3925: Municipal boundary adjustment provisions modified, task force established, and fund usage authorized.

HF3874: Regional library basic system support grant limitation repealed.

HF3640: Legislature; subgroups prohibited from controlling legislative decision-making process, distribution of powers required, full house participation in final decisions required, and constitutional amendment proposed.

HF3592: Electric and transmission pipeline utility valuation rules effective dates prescribed.

HF3567: Transit mode analysis required prior to approval of Central Corridor Transit Way.

HF3445: Anoka County forensic crime laboratory funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.

HF3216: Great River Woodland Trail funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.

HF3177: County liability for reimbursement of cost of care treatment reduced.

HF2945: Best practice guidelines, quality measurements requirement, performance reporting and quality improvement system requirements repealed for health care providers serving certain public programs.

HF2922: Commitment law for felony sentence repealed.

HF2119: University of Minnesota - Duluth personal rapid transit safety facility funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.

HF1952: Patient care expense information required for certain public health coverage programs.

HF1818: Transportation providers not receiving subsidies exempted from various taxes, transit bus restriction on use of freeway and expressway shoulders eliminated, and Metropolitan Council required to allow transit providers to use its bus stops.

HF1661: Character development education promoted in schools.

HF1641: Personal rapid transit local bonding authorized.

HF1614: Net energy billing provisions extended to electricity generated from livestock manure.

HF1585: Manufactured home park exclusions provided relating to seasonal agricultural operations.

SF1509: Manufactured home park seasonal agricultural operations exclusions provided.

HF1367: Water utility charges responsibility regulated for landlords and tenants.

HF1366: Minnesota Regulated Public Transit Utilities Act adopted providing for regulation of transit services, and requiring legislative reports.

HF1361: Lottery proceeds percentage deposited in the natural resources and recreation fund, fund established, and funds usage specified.

HF1174: Personal rapid transit local bonding authorized.

HF1173: Public personal rapid transit systems exempted from certain taxes.

HF1172: Local government state mandate opt-out provided.

HF0867: American Heritage Education in Minnesota Public Schools Act enacted.

HF0866: Education tuition tax credit authorized, and family cap on education tax credit eliminated.

HF0865: Precinct boundary annexation procedures modified.

HF0720: Trunk Highway No. 10 construction funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.

HF0473: Creditor remedies exemptions modified to include wedding rings.

HF0472: Veterans special license plates number of vehicles limit repealed.

HC0003: Rules; a house concurrent resolution amending the joint rules of the senate and house of representatives.

[edit] Domestic assault arrest

Mark Olson was arrested in Blaine November 11, 2006 after police were called to his Big Lake home. According to the criminal complaint, Olson’s wife Heidi told investigators that after an argument Olson pushed her to the ground three times. Olson later admitted to having taken his wife by the shoulders and "placing" her on the ground, according to the police report. After spending two nights in jail, Olson was charged with two misdemeanor counts of domestic assault.^[1]

Legislative staff complained of being abused by Mark Olson in his first term and again in 1997.^[2] Olson has denied he abused his aides, although he attended two counseling sessions with Rep. Steve Sviggum, the Republican leader in the House. On December 7, 2006, Minnesota House Republicans voted to oust Olson from their caucus, meaning that the caucus would not supply him with staff support or other services.^[3]