Capitol View: July 26, 2006 Archive

Ember/DFL dispute not over

Posted at 11:02 AM on July 26, 2006 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

The issue involving Ember Reichgott Junge's use of DFL on billboards, e-mails, etc. isn't over. An evidentiary hearing will be held next week to hear the complaint. Here's a link to the administrative law judge's ruling saying they can proceed on the matter. The DFL Party says Minnesota law says Reichgott Junge shouldn't be using just the letters DFL on her billboards, website or e-mails because she isn't the endorsed candidate. The law says she can use "DFL affiliated," "member of DFL" etc. but can't use the letters "DFL." State Representative Keith Ellison has the party's endorsement.

Comment on this post

The Daily Digest: 5-26-06

Posted at 11:58 AM on July 26, 2006 by Tom Scheck

It's a pretty quiet day on the political front.

Four of the DFLers running in Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District debated the issues yesterday. MPR and the Star Tribune have stories. City Pages Britt Robson says the candidates pandered to the Jewish vote at the event hosted by the Jewish Community Relations Council. Broken Nails also provides their analysis.

Senator Dayton boycotts the speech by the Iraqi Prime Minister.

Governor Pawlenty will tour drought areas in NW Minnesota.

Pawlenty also said yesterday that college tuition increased too rapidly during his first term. His DFL opponent Mike Hatch has been making this a campaign issue over the past two months. You can listen to Pawlenty's entire speech to the U of M here.

The Crookston Times also reports on Mike Hatch's political plan known as "Operation Northern Tiger." College tuition, health care and embryonic stem cell research are mentioned.

MPR's Mark Zdechlik has a story focusing on the race between DFLer Coleen Rowley and Republican incumbent John Kline in Minnesota's Second Congressional District. Roll Call also has a story (subscription required) on the race saying Rowley isn't really a factor.

Roll Call is also reporting (subscription required) that former DFL Party Chair Mike Erlandson will host a fundraiser tonight in Washington DC. Erlandson wants the job of his old boss, Congressman Martin Sabo.

DFL candidate Tim Walz rips Republican Congressman Gil Gutknecht on DM&E.

The Hill reports that Republican Michele Bachmann will get some help from his party's ROMP program.

Kelley camp makes push to secure DFL endorsement for attorney general

Posted at 2:30 PM on July 26, 2006 by Tom Scheck

State Senator Steve Kelley issued a news release touting endorsements from labor unions, DFL party leaders and state lawmakers. Kelley also made a tour through the capitol basement to talk with reporters. Here's the audio.

Here's some of the news release:

Just one week after the attorney general's race was thrown wide open, DFLers across the state are unifying solidly behind Steve Kelley. Democrats are uniting in their support for the state senator from Hopkins, who is known for his work ethic, conviction, and passionate belief in DFL principles.

At the Capitol today, Kelley announced he has received the endorsements of several unions, including AFSCME Council 5 and the Carpenters Union; DFL leaders including Mike Ciresi, David Lillehaug, and Congresswoman Betty McCollum; DFL legislators; and State Central Committee members from around the state (please see attached). The State Central Committee will endorse a candidate for attorney general at their meeting on August 12.

"It has been an honor representing the residents of District 44 and I am eager to do the same for the people of Minnesota," Kelley said. "People across the state have told me they are concerned about their privacy, health care, and safety. I will fight for them the same way I fought to make sure an Iraq War widow from St. Louis Park received her benefits; the same way I fought for kids by protecting them from a divisive and destructive education commissioner."

Former Congressman Bill Luther and Minnesota Solicitor General Lori Swanson are also running in the DFL primary. State Representative Jeff Johnson has the GOP endorsement. John James has the endorsement of the Independence Party.

5th District debate

Posted at 3:46 PM on July 26, 2006 by Tom Scheck

Here's the audio from Monday's 5th District Debate between State Representative Keith Ellison, former DFL Party Chair Mike Erlandson, former state senator Ember Reichgott Junge and Minneapolis City Council member Paul Ostrow. Listen here.

There is one hiccup in the audio at about 39 minutes since I had to change the batteries. It was during the moderator's comments not any of the candidates. All four candidates are headed to the DFL primary. We hope to have the audio from Tuesday night's debate up soon.

Pelosi coming to MN to raise $ for Wetterling

Posted at 3:59 PM on July 26, 2006 by Tom Scheck

Patty Wetterling's campaign manager Corey Day says U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, will hold a fundraiser for Wetterling on August third. Wetterling, a DFLer, is running against Republican Michele Bachmann in Minnesota's Sixth Congressional District. Bachmann brought in some high profile fundraisers of her own in the past month. They include Vice President Dick Cheney, White House political director Karl Rove and House Speaker Dennis Hastert.

Wetterling will also be in Washington on Thursday for the signing of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006. The act will place stricter regulations on child sex offenders. Wetterling's son, Jacob, was abducted in 1989. He has never been found.

DFL to vote on endorsement for attorney general on August 12th

Posted at 4:35 PM on July 26, 2006 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

Here are the details from the DFL Party's press release:

Who: DFL State Central Committee
What: Votes on endorsement for Attorney General
When: 2pm, Saturday, August 12
Where:
Sauk Rapids-Rice High School
1835 Osauka Road NE,
Sauk Rapids, MN

State Senator Steve Kelley, former Congressman Bill Luther and Minnesota Solicitor General Lori Swanson have all filed as Democrats.

Comment on this post

Former Vice President Walter Mondale and Sam and Sylvia Kaplan will hold a fundraiser for Keith Ellison

Posted at 5:41 PM on July 26, 2006 by Tom Scheck (6 Comments)

Politics in Minnesota is reporting the fundraiser for State Representative Keith Ellison will occur later this week:

Several weeks ago, we wrote that we thought that Fifth District Congressional candidate Rep. Keith Ellison's (DFL-Minneapolis) campaign was over. We still maintain that Ellison's candidacy has been damage beyond repair and that Democrats won't say that but they'll vote that way in the primary. However, worth noting is that later this week, the following Democrats are hosting a fundraiser for Ellison: former Vice President Walter Mondale, Sylvia and Sam Kaplan, former Minneapolis Mayor Don Fraser and his wife, Arvonne Fraser, and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and his wife, Megan O'Hara.

Ellison is one of several DFLers running in the September primary. Some of the other DFL candidates include former party Chair Mike Erlandson, former state senator Ember Reichgott Junge and Minneapolis City Council member Paul Ostrow. Republican Alan Fine, Independence Party candidate Tammy Lee and Green Party candidate Jay Pond are also running.

Comment on this post

Klobuchar has hip surgery

Posted at 6:01 PM on July 26, 2006 by Tom Scheck

From the Associated Press:

ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP) - Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Amy Klobuchar had hip surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Tuesday and expects to take about a weeklong break from her campaign.

It was her second of two hip surgeries since April. She described the operation as routine and said she would spend a few more days in the hospital.

Klobuchar, the Hennepin County attorney, said she expects to be back on her feet - perhaps with the aid of crutches - by the middle of next week.

"I do not expect it to slow me down," Klobuchar said by phone from the clinic on Wednesday.

She is the DFL-endorsed candidate running against Republican Mark Kennedy for an open Senate seat.