The Daily Digest: 8-24-06

Posted at 9:54 AM on August 24, 2006 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)

The race for governor leads the digest today. Senator Becky Lourey, who is challenging Mike Hatch in the DFL Primary, says her tax plan is for the common good. The Pi Press has a story on it.

The GOP has filed an ethics complaint against Mike Hatch regarding his interaction with a Ramsey County Judge. The AP and the Star Tribune have stories.

Edward Lotterman, with the Pi Press, writes that Pawlenty and other politicians try to take too much credit when the economy is doing well. Pawlenty has said that he gets the blame when the economy isn't doing well so he should get some credit when it's humming along. Side note: Lotterman may be wrong when he says Congressman Peterson is running ads on the Medicare Prescription Drug benefit. I think the U.S. Chamber ran those ads.

The Star Tribune's Katherine Kersten has a column saying Pawlenty sounds like Mike Hatch when it comes to business:

But the "end of small government" quote aside, Pawlenty is now tossing around lingo we routinely hear from Mike Hatch, his gubernatorial opponent, who has made a career of finding villains in corporate boardrooms.

Pawlenty has even adopted Hatch's signature righteous indignation. "Certain things just get me mad," the governor said in Saturday's article. Bloated government? No, oil companies and drug companies -- familiar whipping boys of the left.

Is Pawlenty trying to out-Hatch Hatch in this election year?

That column may help Pawlenty among mainstream voters. The Wall Street Journal says (subscription required) some businesses have soured on Republicans because of the tough stance on immigration:

Ever since Republicans took over the House in 1994, they rarely have split with business, whether on taxes, regulation, labor or the environment. In turn, businesses have given Republicans steady support. Groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce consistently have awarded perfect or near-perfect scores to Republican lawmakers who vote the way they want on crucial issues -- rankings that usually translate into campaign contributions.

This year, the immigration debate is straining that bond. In an election with control of Congress at stake, the spat could cost Republicans support in key districts. Business groups' rankings have fallen for Republicans who support beefed-up border security but reject expanding legal immigration.

The Rochester Post Bulletin has a story saying a judge believes the re-elect Carla Nelson signs may be illegal. Nelson was a state representative but lost in 2004.

MPR has a story on three of the other DFL candidates running in the 5th. We'll post the entire audio interviews with them later. Tune into MPR at noon to listen to the debate or stop by the MPR booth at the Fair to see it in person. Remember that umbrella and rain gear!

The Star Tribune examines where the 6th District candidates stand on health care.

Finally, MPR's Tom Robertson has a story on the dispute over who should be allowed to fish and manage part of Red Lake. It's interesting that the Pawlenty Administration nor Congressman Peterson didn't return calls for the report. I wonder where the two candidates stand on the issue?

Comments (2)

The Red Lake Band uses a 1936 Solicitors Opinion to claim jurisdiction over Red Lake. The same opinion states that in US v Holt State Bank, 'the lands underlying the navigable waters of the Red Lake Indian Reservation passed to the State of Minnesota upon its admission to the Union'.

The 1981 US Supreme Court decision in US v Montana (450 US 544) states that a Reservation may not control the activities on non-Indians on property (land or water) not owned by the Reservation within the Reservation boundaries. This overrules the 1936 Solicitors Opinion about jurisdiction.

Therefore, the State of Minnesota owns the waters, lakebed and shores of all of Upper and Lower Red Lake, and according to the US Supreme Court, in US v Montana, the Reservation may not control the activities of non-Indians on Red Lake.

Posted by mike barrett | August 24, 2006 11:12 AM

Michael--In the article you are also quoted saying:

"We have to have a state and a nation that embraces equal rights and equal access for all, not special privileges for a few."

I know this is off-topic, but what is your position on gay marriage and civil unions?

Posted by Karl | August 24, 2006 9:22 PM

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