Polinaut: December 11, 2006 Archive

The Daily Digest: 12-11-06

Posted at 10:23 AM on December 11, 2006 by Tom Scheck (6 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

It appears there could be a legislative showdown regarding GOP Representative Mark Olson's future in the Legislature. The forces are lining up to call for his resignation if he pleads guilty or his found guilty of two counts of alleged misdemeanor assault. Olson told the St. Cloud Times that he's headed back to work and is undeterred by the decision to suspend him from the House GOP caucus:

"Maybe it means I'm an independent now," he said. "I don't know. I've always been sort of independent."

Will there be a statewide smoking ban? The Star Tribune examines that question in this story.

Lawmakers were busy predicting how the upcoming legislative session will fare. The Brainerd Post Dispatch and The New Ulm Journal have stories.

Bemidji community leaders meet to discuss the region's upcoming legislative agenda.

The Star Tribune says there is a new focus on life after prison.

The West Central Tribune says DFL Rep. Al Juhnke was one of four selected to be speaker pro tem.

Congress

Congress wrapped up session but not without confirming Minnesota's new U.S. Attorney. The Senate also fixed a tax glitch for the coal gasification plant on the Iron Range.

The Star Tribune says ethics reform will top the Democratic agenda.

Collin Peterson will push for new ethanol sources and says he's not interested in lifting the ethanol tariff.

The Des Moines Register also says more money for biofuels is on the table.

USA Today says Kofi Annan will blast U.S. (Norm Coleman mentioned).

The Washington Post has a story on Ellison's decision to swear on the Qur'an and not the bible. Guess what? Others didn't swear on the bible either.

The Minnesota Daily has a q and a with Ellison

The Downtown Journal takes a look at Tim Walz' victory.

The AP says Kennedy will continue to be active in politics (help Coleman win and will work on '08 GOP convention).

Former St. Paul mayor Randy Kelly gets a job with the EPA.

2008
The National Journal polls Republican and Democratic insiders on their choices for presidential and vice presidential candidates

Here's their definition of insider:

National Journal's latest survey of Democratic and Republican Insiders -- members of Congress, party activists, fundraisers, consultants, lobbyists, and interest-group leaders for whom presidential politics is an "all-engrossing topic.

McCain (GOP) and Clinton (D) lead the list with Romney (GOP) and Obama (D) in second.

Here's an interesting tidbit for all you "Tim Pawlenty as VP watchers:"

Strongest Republican vice presidential candidate Mitt Romney 20% Condoleezza Rice 18% Rudy Giuliani 12% Haley Barbour 8% Jeb Bush 5% Chuck Hagel 5% Tim Pawlenty 5%

Roll Call takes a look at Al Franken and his possible run for the U.S. Senate (subscription required).

The Chicago Tribune says there's a Midwestern drought for presidential hopefuls:

The last born, raised and elected president from the Midwest was Missouri's Harry Truman, and that was almost 60 years ago. A Cubs-like drought has settled on the region since then, dooming the aspirations of stalwart public servants such as Paul Simon (Illinois), John Glenn (Ohio), Walter Mondale (Minnesota), Tom Harkin (Iowa), Richard Lugar (Indiana), Richard Gephardt (Missouri) and Bob Dole (Kansas). True, Gerald Ford (Michigan) became president, but that was accidental and he could not get elected on his own.

The Washington Post says there's no difference between an exploratory committee and a presidential committee except for the hope of two shots on the radio and tv, in the newspaper and buzz on the internet.

Finally, Smart Politics wonders if Minnesota or Wisconsin will select a GOP Presidential candidate first.

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The 6th is the most expensive U.S. House race in Minnesota history. Walz spent nearly every nickel to win.

Posted at 12:26 PM on December 11, 2006 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

The latest FEC reports say Republican Michele Bachmann raised nearly $2.6 million in her successful run in Minnesota's 6th District. Her DFL challenger, Patty Wetterling, outraised and outspent her. She raised $3.1 million. The Bachmann/Wetterling race set a record for spending on a U.S. House race.

DFLer Tim Walz spent nearly every nickel in his successful bid to unseat GOP Congressman Gil Gutknecht. Walz raised $1.225 million and has $3,754 cash on hand and owes $1,870. Gutknecht raised $1.3 million. I'm a little unsure of something in the Walz report (his spokeswoman hasn't called me back). How is he not in greater debt if he raised $1.225 million but spent $1.228 million? Any ideas?

Finally, Amy Klobuchar's campaign says she raised $8.5 million for her successful U.S. Senate run. She has $160,000 left in the bank. The Senate info has not been posted on the FEC site yet so I don't know how much GOP candidate Mark Kennedy raised. His former spokeswoman said she would get me the numbers but hasn't. His treasurer referred me to Kennedy's campaign headquarters which has a disconnected phone number.

Interested in the other candidates? Check it here.

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Pogemiller names Michele Kelm-Helgen as his chief of staff

Posted at 1:08 PM on December 11, 2006 by Tom Scheck

DFL Senate Majority Leader has selected Michele Kelm-Helgen as his Chief of Staff. Kelm-Helgen is a school board member of the Chaska-Chanhassen-Victoria School Board. She was also a lobbyist with North State Advisers and represented several health care clients.

(UPDATE: Kelm-Helgen is the daughter of long-time DFL activist Tom Kelm who was active in Minnesota politics since the 1950s. He served as Chief of Staff for former Governor and Senator Wendell Anderson and later became a lobbyist.)

(ANOTHER UPDATE: Kelm-Helgen's grandfather, Elmer Kelm, was the head of Minnesota's Democratic Party in 1944 when it merged with the Famer-Labor Party. source: St. Paul Pioneer Press, March 8, 2004).

Here's the release:

Chaska resident, small business owner named Chief of Staff to the Senate Majority Leader

Michele Kelm-Helgen, a small-business owner and Chaska resident, has been named as Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller’s
(DFL-Minneapolis) chief of staff.

“I am excited that someone with Michele’s experience is interested in public service,” Sen. Pogemiller said. “As a small-business owner and school board member Michele has many skills that will be put to good use in the Senate.”

Currently a partner North State Advisers, Kelm-Helgen previously worked as a director at Control Data. First elected in 2000, Kelm-Helgen also serves as a member of the Chaska-Chanhassen-Victoria School Board. She earned a BA from the College of St. Catherine and a MBA from the University of St. Thomas.

Kelm-Helgen is married to Henry Helgen who is a litigation attorney at McGrann Shea Anderson Carnival Straughn & Lamb, Chartered. They have three children - their son teaches abroad and their twin daughters are juniors at Harvard University.

“I have a great deal of respect for Sen. Pogemiller,” Kelm-Helgen said. “I am excited to have the opportunity to work within the Senate on important issues to move Minnesota forward.”

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