Polinaut: August 2, 2006 Archive

The Daily Digest: 8-2-06

Posted at 10:51 AM on August 2, 2006 by Tom Scheck

The Farmfest forums lead the digest today. There are links to the stories the major news outlets produced in an early post. I'm focusing on the stories done by The Bemidji Pioneer and the Marshall Independent.

Mark Kennedy is also getting some bus tour and rally help from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, according to the The Hill:

The Chamber has specially outfitted a bus dubbed the "Vote for Business Bandwagon," which will travel to Maryland, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri and Tennessee.

The Chamber will hold rallies for lawmakers it has endorsed, such as Republican Sens. Rick Santorum (Pa.), Mike DeWine (Ohio) and Jim Talent (Mo.) and Rep. Mark Kennedy (R), who's running for Senate in Minnesota. And in Baltimore it will support Michael Steele, the Republican running for Senate in Maryland.

The Washington Post's Ruth Marcus has a story on the nuts and bolts of fundraising and focuses a bit on Kennedy's rubber chicken circuit:

To read these invitations is to feel some sympathy for what these folks have to go through to get elected. Rep. Mark Kennedy, a Minnesota Republican running for an open Senate seat, had a fundraising lunch June 15 with White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten at the Oval Room. On June 22, former congressman Bob Livingston, now -- what else? -- a lobbyist, hosted a lunch for Kennedy at his lobbying shop; that night Kennedy was back on the fundraising circuit, joined at Bistro Bis by Sens. Rick Santorum (Pa.) and Mel Martinez (Fla.). The next week it was lunch with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and 10 other GOP senators.

Congressional Quarterly says the GOP is outraising the Democrats nationwide:

Predictably, the Republicans - who control the White House, both chambers of Congress and a narrow majority of governorships - outraised the Democrats. The report, which analyzed campaign finance activity over the first 18 months of the 2005-06 cycle, showed that Republican Party committees at the federal, state and local level have raised $405.7 million (58 percent of the two-party total) in strictly regulated "hard" money, compared to the $289.3 million raised by Democratic Party committees.

But there is good news for the Democrats, in that they have narrowed the gap somewhat: Their 2005-06 receipts represent a 4 percent increase over a comparable period in the 2003-04 cycle, while the GOP committees collected 13 percent less.

The Washington Post also says some national Democratic leaders are worried about their Get Out the Vote efforts.

The Rochester Post Bulletin focuses on the differences/agreements between Gil Gutknecht and Tim Walz at Farmfest.

The endorsed candidates for governor debate the issues at Farmfest today.

The Pioneer Press has a story that says several DFL Senators are "accusing his office of ordering that a prison chaplain be fired for questioning a controversial program to bring Jesus to inmates.

The Associated Press is reporting that MN GOP Chairman Ron Carey is alleging that attorney general Mike Hatch is using his office for political gain (NOTE I UPDATED AN EARLIER AP STORY):

ST. PAUL (AP) - State Republicans on Wednesday accused Attorney General Mike Hatch of blurring the line between his official duties and his campaign for governor.

Democrats responded by renewing their charge that Gov. Tim Pawlenty regularly travels the state on the taxpayer's dime for political purposes.

Sitting politicians who run for higher office or for reelection often are criticized for covertly campaigning at taxpayer expense. The latest allegation came from state GOP Chairman Ron Carey, who held a press conference outside Hatch's office to announce that he'd ask the Office of Legislative Auditor to investigate several instances of what Carey said was questionable behavior.

Carey cited three recent examples, including what he said was the most clear-cut: In a recent press release from the attorney general's office, Hatch referenced a campaign press conference, and made several references to Judi Dutcher, his gubernatorial running mate.

"It's becoming increasingly clear that Mike Hatch has made his office ... into a shadow campaign headquarters," Carey said.

Hatch, who was attending a governor candidate forum at Farmfest near Redwood Falls, said all the actions in question conform to standards previously laid out by the legislative auditor.

Just two days earlier, state DFL Chairman Brian Melendez issued a press release criticizing Pawlenty for a statewide swing where he stopped in five cities to announce a new health care initiative.

"Sometimes it's legitimate for a sitting governor to travel the state at public cost, but a whistle-stop tour isn't a legitimate government expense," Melendez said.

The Star Tribune and the Pi Press have stories focusing on a lawsuit that may slow the construction of the Maple Grove Hospital. Here's the Strib's take:

The action has the potential of delaying next spring's construction start and the 2009 scheduled opening of the state's first new hospital in 20 years, near the intersection of Interstate Hwy. 94 and the future Hwy. 610 extension.

Finally, the New York Times has a story on how crowded the Senate elevator is getting in Washington.

Here's a remembrance of two late Democratic senators who took rides on that elevator:

Several senators and staff members recalled the penchant of Paul Wellstone, the late Minnesota senator, for recruiting nonsenators to ride the elevator with him.

Mr. Cook remembered Senator Hubert H. Humphrey coming aboard an elevator, saying hello and asking where Mr. Cook was from.

''Shreveport, Louisiana,'' Mr. Cook replied, and Mr. Humphrey proceeded to unburden himself of everything he knew about Shreveport -- what Congressional district the city was in, who represented it in Congress and the restaurant where he ate during a visit there.

''He basically kept talking through the ride, as he walked off the elevator, down the hall and around the corner,'' Mr. Cook marveled.

Be sure to check out MPR's Campaign 2006 site for anything/everything related to politics.

The Rake profiles Peter Hutchinson

Posted at 12:40 PM on August 2, 2006 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

The Rake profiles Independence Party candidate Peter Hutchinson in its latest issue.

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Candidates for governor square off at Farmfest

Posted at 3:12 PM on August 2, 2006 by Tom Scheck

REDWOOD FALLS, Minn. (AP) - Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty and three men who want his job sparred Wednesday over jobs, roads and other rural issues in the campaign's first debate.
Before an audience of farmers at the Farmfest agricultural fair, Pawlenty came out swinging, almost immediately taking a dig at the DFL's Mike Hatch for quoting a big-city newspaper on his campaign Web site.
"He cites the New York Times on his Web site on his campaign as the source for good ag policy in Minnesota. We should make that in St. Paul and in Minnesota," said the governor, who's seeking a second term.
Hatch, the attorney general, is the DFL-endorsed candidate. The Independence Party's Peter Hutchinson and the Green Party's Ken Pentel also participated in the debate, which was limited to party-endorsed candidates.
DFL state Sen. Becky Lourey, who's challenging Hatch in a September primary, watched most of the forum, but wasn't invited to participate.
On feedlots, Hatch said a governor's task force recommended giving the state Agriculture Department more power.
"I don't think St. Paul ought to be making decisions for rural communities as it relates to zoning issues," he said.
Pawlenty and Hatch also clashed over the JOBZ economic development program. Pawlenty said the program has brought jobs to rural Minnesota, while Hatch said it unfairly rewards select companies and has mainly moved jobs from community to community.
After they went back and forth several times, Hutchinson said: "I'm astonished how long you guys can spend arguing over a program that affects almost no one."
Both Hatch and Hutchinson attacked Pawlenty's record on health care, rural roads and local government aid.
During the 2003 budget crisis, Pawlenty's administration eliminated the MinnesotaCare health program for thousands of people. Hatch also mentioned several times that the state Transportation Department took $100 million earmarked for rural projects and spent it in the Twin Cities.
"I would never cut MinnesotaCare. I would never transfer the rural highway account and I would never have property taxes go up to the degree that they have," Hatch said.
Hatch and other critics say Pawlenty's stance against taxes doesn't include property taxes, which are imposed by local governments and which have been rising rapidly in recent years.
Hutchinson, a former Minneapolis schools superintendent, blamed Pawlenty for breaking a promise made by his predecessor, Jesse Ventura, to have the state take over more education costs.
"The person who led part of the charge to break this deal is sitting down at the end of the table, and he ought to be held accountable for what happened," Hutchinson said.
Pawlenty warned that the others' proposals would lead to higher taxes, and he took credit for leading the state back into the black after a historic budget deficit.
"By the way, I'm not going to raise taxes," he said. "If you add up the promises that are being made in this campaign, particularly by the attorney general, it's going to lead to massive tax increases."
The candidates also played to the rural audience, with Pawlenty praising farmers not only for being an "economic engine" but also for adding an element of common sense. He claimed to be the "most active and forward-looking governor on agricultural issues in modern times."
Hutchinson said he would involve representatives of local governments in decision-making in St. Paul. In contrast, he said relations between the state and local governments under Pawlenty are at their "most poisonous."
Pentel promised to eliminate property taxes for organic farmers who follow sustainable agricultural practices. He said he would govern as a "protector of the state."
Hatch - who grew up in Duluth - said he is from rural Minnesota and understands its value.
But that prompted another dig from the governor, who said, "He loved Greater Minnesota so much the first thing he did in public service was to move to Wayzata and run for mayor."
There was some levity when Hutchinson praised Pawlenty's efforts to promote foreign trade.
"Thanks, Peter - I love you, man," Pawlenty said.
"You can love me, but you can't have my beer," Hutchinson responded, referring to an old Bud Light advertising campaign.

Odds and Ends

Posted at 5:44 PM on August 2, 2006 by Tom Scheck

Erlandson hits the airwaves.

Mike Erlandson is running radio ads to help his run for Congress. Erlandson is one of seven DFLers running in the September primary in Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District. He is the former DFL party chair and former chief of staff to Congressman Martin Sabo, who is retiring. In fact, one of the ads is Sabo singing Erlandson's praises.

Speaking of Sabo, he'll appear at an event on Thursday with Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. Here are the details:

Congressman Martin Olav Sabo (DFL-5th District), a senior member of the U.S. House of Representatives, will host Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi at a forum with respected Twin Cities leaders on the New Direction for America agenda recently unveiled by Democrats in Congress. WHO: Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Congressman Martin Olav Sabo, Congresswoman Betty McCollum, and Invited Guests WHAT: Democrats' "New Direction for America" Forum WHERE: Humphrey Forum Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota 301 19th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN WHEN: 3 p.m. Thursday, August 3, 2006

Pelosi isn't the only national politician who will be in Minnesota this week. The Republican National Committee's 2006 Annual Summer Meeting themed "Defining The Difference," will be at the Bloomington Sheraton Hotel on Thursday and Friday. Here are those details on the open press events:

OPEN PRESS EVENTS Thursday, August 3rd, 2006 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. CDT RNC Standing Committee On Rules Meeting Edina Room 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. CDT Welcome Session Grand Ballroom (West and Center) Friday, August 4th, 2006 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. CDT RNC General Session Grand Ballroom (West and Center) 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. CDT RNC Member's Luncheon Grand Ballroom (East).

The Independence Party's Team Minnesota will hold a news conference on Thursday. Peter Hutchinson, who is running for governor, and the other I-P endorsed statewide candidates will discuss transportation:

Peter Hutchinson, Independence Party-endorsed candidate for Governor, and the rest of Team Minnesota (Maureen Reed - Lt. Governor, John James - Attorney General, Lucy Gerold - State Auditor, and Joel Spoonheim - Secretary of State) will conduct a news conference on Thursday, August 3, 10:30 a.m., in State Capitol Room 125. They will discuss issues related to Transportation, one of the four main things (Education, Health Care, Transportation and Environment/Energy) that will move Minnesota forward.

Finally, Paul Ostrow is one of those candidates on Youtube.com. You can see him talking about policy issues here.

More odds and ends

Posted at 6:31 PM on August 2, 2006 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

The Star Tribune, MPR, the Pioneer Press and the AP have stories on Farmfest's gubernatorial debate.

MPR and the AP have stories on the GOP complaint against Mike Hatch, who has the DFL endorsement for governor.

Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life also isn't happy with Hatch. The MCCL's Scott Fischbach doesn't like Hatch's position on embryonic stem cell research according to LifeNews:

"Mike Hatch is clamoring to occupy the governor's mansion in order to wage war on the most vulnerable members of the human family," Scott Fischbach, MCCL's executive director, said in a statement provided to LifeNews.com. "If Hatch cannot be trusted to protect the most defenseless among us, how can he be trusted at all?" he asked.

MSNBC reports businesses will back Mark Kennedy for U.S. Senate. Here are some quotes from former MN Congressman Vin Weber:

"It's a very defensive year for Republicans and the business community," said Vin Weber, a Washington lobbyist and former Republican member of Congress. "Almost all the attention is on protecting Senate seats we have."

Mr Weber said the business community still had some decisions to make about where to direct its support. "A lot of money is being held back and it's going to be targeted very late in the game."

That means the GOP candidates closest in the polls get the whole cookie jar.

DFL Leader Nancy Pelosi is making the rounds in Minnesota.

Brownie rips Norm in a Playboy interview (I'm linking to an article by the Star Tribune not Playboy).

And finally, City Pages has the quote of the day from Farmfest:

"You wanna talk about small town, I'll tell you that I went to a school with 25 students, and 12 of them were my cousins," DFL Candidate Tim Walz says, pausing a beat. "Prom-dating was very difficult."

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