Polinaut: January 5, 2007 Archive

The Daily Digest: 1-5-07

Posted at 10:17 AM on January 5, 2007 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

Happy Birthday former Vice President Walter Mondale.

The Digest's psychic powers are off the charts today. It foresees a showdown over taxes between Governor Pawlenty and Senate DFLers. Senate DFLers released their slate of legislative proposals which include several tax increases. AP and Pi Press have stories. The Star Tribune leads with their proposed property tax plan.

Governor Pawlenty told reporters after his speech to the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce that he opposes the tax hikes. MPR and the Star Tribune have stories on his speech and comments.

Pawlenty is also pressing for quick action on tax deductions.

The Star Tribune also reports on a dedicated sales tax proposal for the arts and the environment.

The St. Cloud Times focuses on the Senate DFL education plan and its author, Tarryl Clark of St. Cloud.

MPR also has a story saying arts groups are setting their sites on funding.

Mary Pawlenty leaves the bench for a new job. The Pi Press and the Star Tribune have stories.

AP has a q and a with Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson.

The House is looking for a new chaplain.

Congress

MPR, the Star Tribune, the Pi Press, Forum Communications and the St. Cloud Times all have stories on yesterday's events in Congress.

DFL Congressman Keith Ellison received plenty of attention. He also wrote an op-ed on Wasthington Post's "On Faith" site yesterday (thanks to bob for the heads up).

DFL Senator Amy Klobuchar and Ellison are also mentioned in this NY Times story.

Klobuchar gets a double dip in the NY Times and is included in this story on ethics.

MSNBC profiles Congresswoman Michele Bachmann in this story on a study in contrasts.

The National Journal (via MSNBC) has profiles of the freshman here.

Forum Communications also focuses on the Minnesota's rise in power in the U.S. House.

Norm Coleman introduces legislation that would help manufacturing workers who lost their jobs because of international trade.

Coleman also writes on "The Hill's" Congress Blog that a balanced budget is the responsibility of Congress.

Blog Watch

City Hall Scoop says the RNC is powering up for the 2008 convention.

Buzz.MN also says RNC officials were in town on Thursday to discuss the convention.

Dick Polman's American Debate says Democrats in Washington are having some problems from their more liberal supporters.

Again, please let me know if you see or write anything of interest.

Comings and goings.

MPR is reporting that GOP Senator Norm Coleman will be at the White House today to talk with President Bush about the Iraq war and a possible troop surge.

TPT's Almanac will have four freshman state lawmakers and video of the inauguration dinner in Minneapolis (I'm told Governor Pawlenty and First Lady Mary Pawlenty gush over each other).

You can check out the rundown here.

Quote of the day

"Maybe they're here for you." Democrat Keith Ellison's response after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told him he knew how to attract a crowd. Ellison received plenty of attention for being the first Muslim elected to Congress and for taking the oath of office on Thomas Jefferson's Koran.

Draft Obama comes to Minnesota

Posted at 11:52 AM on January 5, 2007 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

Here's the release:

MINNESOTA DRAFTOBAMA.ORG LAUNCHED TODAY MINNESOTA CITIZENS SAY WE WANT OBAMA TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT

(MINNEAPOLIS, MN) Today’s launch of the Minnesota DraftObama.org movement sent a strong message that Minnesotans want Illinois Senator Barack Obama to run for and become the next President. State organizers, encouraged by the overwhelming success of the DraftObama.org movement, began an all-volunteer movement to gather thousands of signatures from other like-minded Minnesotans urging Senator Obama to run. Minnesotans from an array of political parties have pledged support from across the state.

“There is a real grassroots movement and excitement here like I have never seen before. People here are showing support for various reasons, but the most common is the fact that we believe Obama to be honest and positive. He speaks of hope and change, this is what Minnesota and our country is yearning for while we are in troubled times,” said Paul Provost, Minnesota's DraftObama.org Spokesman. “We are excited that Minnesota can be one of the first DraftObama.org state chapters and an influential participant in the upcoming presidential elections.”

Minnesota organizers are gathering thousands of signatures from Obama supporters in Minnesota, building a grassroots organization that will eventually help Obama win Minnesota in the Democratic primary. Minnesota DraftObama.org will be having a Minnesota DraftObama.org “Walk for Obama” in Uptown Minneapolis on Jan 13, 2007.

Minnesota DraftObama.org will sponsor activities to support DraftObama.org and organize trips to hear Senator Obama speak at various events in and out of state. DraftObama.org is an all-volunteer grassroots organization supporting a presidential run by Senator Obama.
The movement, spearheaded by a growing collection of volunteers from around the country, has grown from a single web page created by Ben Stanfield, a computer technician in Rockville,
MD, to a national organization with thousands of petition-signers and hundreds of volunteers.

DraftObama.org is an all-volunteer, grassroots movement to gather together and share our voices to urge Barack Obama to run for President. Paid for by Draft Obama, LLC (www.draftobama.org) and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

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Gaertner building foundation to run for governor in 2010

Posted at 12:08 PM on January 5, 2007 by Tom Scheck

Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner is building the foundation for a possible run for Minnesota governor in 2010. Gaertner said on Minnesota Public Radio's Midmorning Program that she's talking to supporters about a possible run for governor. She called it the right time to run, now that her children are older. Gaertner, a Democrat, also said her experience managing the Ramsey County Attorney's Office should convince voters that she can do the job.

"I will have been in office now for 16 years," she said. "I run a major, major enterprise. I have 320 some employees. We cover the gamut in terms of issues that we grapple with. I am an experienced leader so it is the right time for me."

Gaertner also said she's encouraged that voters overwhelmingly elected Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar to the U.S. Senate in November.

"Certainly the national media and the local media has attributed part of Amy's success to the office of which she came," Gaertner said. "The image that she was able to project as a female prosecutor. It is an office that is tough. You need to be tough and you need to be courageous."

Former U.S. Senator Mark Dayton, a Democrat, also says he's thinking about running for governor in 2010.