The Daily Digest: 8-16-06

Posted at 10:36 AM on August 16, 2006 by Tom Scheck

GOP Congressman Mark Kennedy leads the digest today. He begins his statewide tout touting his plan for "bringing the right change to Washington." Kennedy stops in several southern Minnesota cities today. Meanwhile The Hill has a story that Kennedy and several other Republican candidates are trying to co-opt the message of "change" from Democrats:

Their message of change could be a tough sell considering that their party is in charge and largely responsible for the status quo. Kennedy, who as a three-term congressman would seem to have an even tougher time embodying change, mostly talks about change in terms of getting rid of partisanship and obstruction in the Senate. But he shies away from directly criticizing his own party for the polarized environment.

Kennedy is also running his third television ad that focuses on gas prices. He says he wants to suspend the federal gas tax and redirect tax breaks given to oil companies to alternative energy sources. That prompted howls from the DFL Party. DFL Party Chair Brian Melendez says Kennedy voted against legislation that would end tax breaks for oil companies. They also say he took $120,000 in campaign contributions from oil and gas companies.

Heidi Frederickson, with the Kennedy campaign, says Kennedy has stood up against proposals by oil and gas companies, citing his opposition to drilling in national parks and stand alone bills that would authorize drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (kennedy voted for a Defense Appropriations bill that allowed drilling in ANWR something the Kennedy campaign says 70 other Democrats did as well).

It's not only DFLers who are criticizing the Kennedy ad. Craig Westover questions Kennedy's tactics in his blog.

The Star Tribune's Eric Black has more analysis on the ad here...

The Star Tribune has a story focusing on the three female candidates for governor challenging the endorsed party candidates:

Becky Lourey, Sue Jeffers and Pam Ellison are running against powerful party organizations, superior name recognition and much larger treasuries in long-shot quests to be the first woman elected the state's governor.

Their messages, especially those of Lourey and Jeffers, are strikingly similar in one way. They say they are the principled and authentic alternative to politics as usual, more faithful to their party's core values than their endorsed opponents.

The Star Tribune also has a story on Pam Ellison's single payer health care plan.

You can listen to Ellison's ideas on MPR's Midday.

Attorney General Mike Hatch and the Pawlenty Administration argue over the release of student test results. The Star Tribune, the AP, the Pioneer Press and Forum Communications have stories on the delayed results. You can read more about the dispute in an earlier post.

The Star Tribune also has a write up on the candidates for State Auditor. DFLer Rebecca Otto says Republican State Auditor Pat Anderson has poor accounting practices. Anderson says Otto is wrong.

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak released his budget proposal which includes funding for more police officers. MPR and the Star Tribune have stories.

Ron Schara writes an op-ed that continues Dennis Anderson's theme that Dean Johnson and the DFL Senate are responsible for killing the dedicated sales tax to the environment.

The Rochester Post Bulletin has a story on the Mayo Clinic admitting former President Gerald Ford for tests.

The New York Times has a story on Michael Schiavo's entry in politics. They say he started a PAC that's aimed against politicians who tried to stop Ms. Schiavo's death

Finally, the NYTimes has a story on the demise of state fairs across the country. Don't worry. They say the Great Minnesota Get Together is safe

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