Polinaut: August 1, 2006 Archive

The Daily Digest 8-1-06

Posted at 9:45 AM on August 1, 2006 by Tom Scheck

Northwest Airlines leads the digest today. Specifically the flight attendants vote to reject the contract proposal. This could set up a nasty courtroom showdown and spill over into Minnesota's political races. MPR, the Star Tribune, the Pi Press and the AP all have stories. It looks like the flight attendants are ready for a fight according to MPR's Jeff Horwich:

"I think there's just a basic sense of injustice here," said Mollie Reiley, who heads the union at Northwest. "For some of these people it's as basic as -- if we agree to these terms, they can no longer afford their homes. They can no longer afford to stay in this job. And so I think for some of them the decision is, if my career is gone anyway, we might as well go down fighting."

The Pi Press and AP have stories on the decision by a judge to throw out Minnesota's video game law.

The Pi Press and Star Tribune dissect Governor Pawlenty's latest health care proposal.

HMMM. I wonder why Pawlenty and Mike Hatch are talking about health care.

Hennepin County Sheriff Pat McGowan endorses former DFL Party Chair Mike Erlandson for Congress and rips Keith Ellison, the DFL endorsed candidate. MPR and the Star Tribune have stories.

One side note, Jim DeMay, who headed up the DNC's Get Out the Vote efforts in Ohio for John Kerry in 2004, is "volunteering" for the Erlandson campaign.

The top Democrats in Congress put forward a pullout plan for Iraq. I can already hear the GOP fax machines churrning with news releases asking "Does Amy Klobuchar/Mike Hatch/Tim Walz/Colin Peterson/Jim Oberstar/DFLer running for dog catcher support the idea?" Republican Mike Barrett is first out of the gate asking DFL incumbent Colin Peterson that question:

If Minority Leader Pelosi is accurate in her statement that the entire Democrat leadership is united, does this mean that Collin Peterson support this 'cut-and-run' nonsense?" said Republican challenger Michael Barrett. "Nancy Pelosi will be at FarmFest this week being showcased by my opponent, and I hope the press will ask him if he is united with the rest of the Democrat leadership on 'cut-and-run'.

Many of the Congressional candidates will be at Farmfest today. MPR's Midday will air the debates later this week. Expect to hear farmers and candidates say they don't want too many changes to the farm bill

It looks like cities across Minnesota are preparing their budgets for next year. St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman is set to announce his budget plan on Wednesday. City officials say there will be a shortfall. Bemidji is also getting ready to increase property taxes according to the Bemidji Pioneer:

An unexpected decrease in Local Government Aid and mounting funding needs have led the city of Bemidji to anticipate an estimated $1.1 million increase to the city’s levy in 2007.

“It’s a significant increase,” City Finance Director Ron Eischens said at a City Council work session Monday evening. “And keep in mind this is only the city tax increase — it does not include the county or the school district tax levies.”

The Star Tribune reports that some county commissioners have more than higher property taxes on their minds. Some are getting heat for supporting stadium legislation.

There are several stories by the NY Times, Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal on offshore tax shelters saving oodles of money for America's wealthy. Here's a glimpse from the Wall Street Journal:

In documents released before today's hearing, the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations detailed how lawyers, accountants, bankers and trust administrators worked together to hide shelters from tax officials and profit from them. Among those scheduled to testify are Haim Saban, a media magnate and founder of the Fox Family network, and Robert Wood Johnson IV, a philanthropist and heir to the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceuticals fortune.

The New York Times says Minnesota's junior senator has a role in this:

The universe of offshore tax cheating has become so large that no one, not even the United States government, could go after all of it,'' said Senator Carl Levin, the Michigan Democrat whose staff ran the investigation.

Senator Norm Coleman, the Minnesota Republican who is chairman of the subcommittee, adopted the minority report on Sunday as the product of the full committee.

There are some new Minnesota laws taking effect today. The Star Tribune and MPR have stories on the identity theft protections.

The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) says the White House press room is getting a makeover:

For a decade, the daily White House news briefing has been televised. Now it is becoming television.

Earlier this year, Fox News talk show host Tony Snow was hired as press secretary. Next up: a renovation of the briefing room, likely with a video wall that could display everything from "flags waving in the breeze [to] detailed charts and graphs," according to a senior White House official working on the project. For TV viewers, the video feed could be the sole on-screen image, or could share the space with the speaker.

White House officials say they are weighing how -- and how often -- to use the video capability. But the new technology could help transform White House briefings -- midday exchanges with reporters in a utilitarian setting -- into more interesting viewing. Both the planned video capabilities and Mr. Snow's hiring appear to be part of a subtle but sweeping effort by administration officials to deliver their message directly to the public, particularly through video.

It's a pretty slow day except for FarmFest. Governor Pawlenty and several other politicians will be out and about tonight for National Night Out. Please check out MPR's Campaign 2006 site to get further information on candidates and listen to their speeches/news conferences.

Former MN Attorney General Miles Lord endorses Lori Swanson for AG

Posted at 2:16 PM on August 1, 2006 by Tom Scheck

Lori Swanson is one of three DFLers running for attorney general. State Senator Steve Kelley and former Congressman Bill Luther are the others. Here's the letter:

To the Members of the DFL State Central Committee:

I am writing to you as an active democrat of over sixty years and as an attorney having served for six years as attorney general, six years as federal district attorney and twenty years ending as the chief federal judge of Minnesota. While I remain active on public issues, I have never felt compelled to write the members of the State Central Committee to urge an action. This year the race for attorney general has had an unprecedented withdrawal by the party’s candidate and the quality of his replacement becomes more crucial than ever to the ticket.
A little history is in order concerning the health care issue and the attorney general’s office.
When I served as attorney general, I authorized formation of the first non-profit health care provider in Minnesota. It was a significant breakthrough in the delivery of health care to participating Minnesotans, offering quality health care at substantial saving. Because the profit motive was eliminated, doctors could deliver their services more efficiently. It worked well for decades for administrators, doctors, patients and those paying for the services.
No one could imagine at that time that these so-called "non-profits" would ultimately use the non-profit shell authorized by the state to engage in behavior for their personal financial gain, and against the public interest.
For the past seven years the state of Minnesota, under Attorney General Hatch's leadership, has investigated and brought lawsuits against this industry to correct the abuses and restore the non-profits to their original mission of delivering quality health care to their patients.
The person who led the state's efforts in the courtroom was Solicitor General Lori Swanson. She directed the investigations, prepared and filed the lawsuits, conducted the discovery, and did the heavy lifting in the courtroom. As Solicitor General she was the person directly responsible for the trial work and she supervised the state's case against the defendants who abused the public’s trust. She had great success and her work is widely respected by the legal community. I applaud her skill and commitment.
Minnesotans are well aware and grateful for the great successes that have been achieved, but much remains to be done. There are important cases pending, including the investigation of UnitedHealth Group and the billions of dollars that have been siphoned off into stock options for the top executives.
Now, we have an election and Lori Swanson is seeking to be elected attorney general. While the other candidates have largely legislative backgrounds, there is no one with more hands-on
knowledge of these investigations than Solicitor General Swanson. In these lawsuits she has proven to be an effective, tough-minded and aggressive litigator. (A special note about Bill Luther. My family and I have always financially supported Bill in his campaigns. He is a worthy political leader.) However, the uniqueness of the circumstances this time causes me to choose another direction. Bill has been a skilled legislative leader. Lori is the trial lawyer handling the very litigation that is so important. This is a vital distinction.
As a former federal judge, district attorney and attorney general, I believe I can speak with some authority on the need for continuity in conducting major litigation and winning the cases at hand. If Lori Swanson is elected, the state's work will proceed on schedule without delay and I am confident of winning results. We should not change horses in mid-stream.
I am therefore announcing my whole-hearted and enthusiastic support for the candidacy of Solicitor General Lori Swanson for the DFL nomination for attorney general of Minnesota.
We have an opportunity to elect a woman of high legal accomplishment and talent to continue the important work of the attorney general’s office in delivering quality heath care to the people of Minnesota through its work on managed health care providers.
The selection of the next attorney general should be based primarily on quality of legal talent and trust. I know and trust this lawyer. Her campaign is not about politics or a political career. Lori is seeking this office to continue her work running the consumer protection division. I stand with her and I urge all of you to give her candidacy every consideration.

Sincerely,

Miles W. Lord

Senate candidates throw it at FarmFest

Posted at 2:27 PM on August 1, 2006 by Tom Scheck

The Associated Press has a story on the Senate debate at FarmFest. The debate included Republican Congressman Mark Kennedy, Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar, a DFLer, Independence Party candidate Robert Fitzgerald and Green Party candidate Michael Cavlan. Here's a glimpse:

Between touting their down-home credentials, the candidates -- particularly Kennedy and Klobuchar -- traded potshots.

Kennedy came out swinging first, telling the crowd that Klobuchar is supported by an interest group -- the League of Conservation Voters, which he never named from the stage -- that considers manure a toxic waste, and is opposed to expanded shipping capabilities on the Mississippi River and deep sea natural gas exploration to bring down energy costs for farmers.

"We have to have someone who really believes what farmers believe," said Kennedy, currently a congressman.

Klobuchar hit back by saying that she doesn't agree with every policy stance of the groups that support her.

"I don't want to get into the manure here, but I don't think manure is a toxic waste," she said.

Fitzgerald and Cavlan used much of their time to point out that they're not taking political donations from interest groups or political action committees. They said that protected them from the influence of big agribusiness companies that they said don't have small farmers' best interests in mind.

Several public safety groups endorse Rich Stanek for Hennepin County Sheriff

Posted at 3:22 PM on August 1, 2006 by Tom Scheck (16 Comments)

Six public safety groups including the Hennepin County Sheriff Office Deputies Association, the Minneapolis Police Officers Federation, Police Officers Alliance of Minnesota and the Firefighters Association of Minneapolis local #82, endorsed Rich Stanek for Sheriff. Stanek, who is currently a Captain with the Minneapolis Police Department, is a former Republican State legislator and former Minnesota Public Safety Commissioner. Stanek touted his experience at the news conference:

"The groups today that have announced their support of my candidacy represent the people who patrol our streets, put out fires, and help us with medical emergencies. They know it takes experience, leadership, and the ability to bring people together to keep us safe at home, work, and in our schools."

Stanek resigned his post as Public Safety Commissioner under pressure in 2004 for racist comments he made in 1992. When asked what he would say to people who had concerns about those comments, Stanek said this:

"I have spent the last several years of my professional career building coalitions. I can't change that part of the past but I can tell I've learned a lot. I can tell you I reached out to a number of folks. I can tell you that the co-chairs of my campaign, the workers who are here today, pounding on signs, knocking on doors, supporting me, they are broad based. They are real people. They're concerned about crime and race, gender, creed, ethnicity cuts across those boundaries. It's about keeping the people of Hennepin County safe."

There are six candidates running for Hennepin County Sheriff. Juan Lopez has the DFL endorsement and works with juvenile offenders in Hennepin County. Bruce Anderson is a 28-year veteran of the Orono police department. Tom Fitzhenry has been a police officer for the City of Richfield for 28 years. Linda Lachner of Maple Grove and Daniel Rusch of Tonka Bay are also running. The top two vote getters in the September primary move on to the November election.

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Becky Lourey excluded from Farmfest

Posted at 4:35 PM on August 1, 2006 by Tom Scheck

State Senator Becky Lourey, who is challenging Mike Hatch in the DFL Primary, will be excluded from Farmfest because she isn't an endorsed candidate. Lourey's campaign says she'll still speak at the event before the gubernatorial forum begins on Wednesday.

Despite being the only rural Minnesota resident and former farmer in the race for Governor, Becky Lourey has been excluded from the Farmfest debate. She will be making a statement regarding her agricultural policies at 10 a.m. prior to the beginning of the debate among the various party-endorsed candidates.

The Daily Digest 8-1-06 #2

Posted at 5:23 PM on August 1, 2006 by Tom Scheck (3 Comments)

I had the time to update the digest. I also need to hit the ground running on Wednesday so that digest may take a while. Hopefully this keeps you full.

First off, the candidates for Congress and the U.S. Senate debated the issues at Farmfest today. MPR, the Star Tribune and the AP all have stories on the debates.

The St. Cloud Times focuses on the candidates in the Sixth Congressional District.

Farmers are concerned about the drought. MPR and AP have stories on what government officials are doing to address all of the dry land.

Rachel Stassen Berger with the St. Paul Pioneer Press says Minnesota's politicians have discovered YouTube.

Here's what to watch for on Wednesday...

The MNGOP says Mike Hatch is using the office of Minnesota Attorney General's office for political gain. Party Chair Ron Caryey will discuss new developments regarding Hatch. This event comes less than a week after the chair of the Independence Party made similar accusations. Hatch is the DFL endorsed candidate for governor.

The endorsed candidates for governor debate the issues at Farmfest. DFL Senator Becky Lourey, who is challenging Mike Hatch in the DFL Primary, says she'll talk with reporters before the event begins.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) will be in Minnesota. She'll be touring an Ethanol plant and will appear at Farmfest for an energy forum.

St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman gives his budget address at 11:30.

DFL Senator Linda Berglin and the SEIU announce that they'll file a lawsuit challenging the legislation approving the Maple Grove Hospital. The union believes it violates the Minnesota Constitution because it favors one business over another. Republican Senator Warren Limmer, who backed the bill, will give comments after the announcement.

The DFL candidates for attorney general debate the issues at a forum sponsored by the DFL Feminist Caucus. The debate is at the Hennepin County Government Center, Lower Level, Jury Assembly Room at 7 pm.

Finally,

Congratulations to Nora Kaitfors of Duluth who made the "The Hill's 50 Most Beautiful People on Capitol Hill." I originally reported that no Minnesotans made the list but was corrected by some sharp eyed viewers.

Check out MPR's Campaign 2006 site for in depth information about many of the candidates.

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