Polinaut: January 8, 2007 Archive

The Daily Digest: 1-8-07

Posted at 8:19 AM on January 8, 2007 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

DFLers in the Minnesota House announce their first slate of bills today. Expect property taxes, health care and eduation to be on the agenda. The Star Tribune says DFLers in the House and Senate share common goals with GOP Governor Tim Pawlenty. The story comes one day after the paper says transportation funding will cause some friction.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press says a statewide smoking ban could surface.

Iron Rangers talk issues and how they'll deal with a Republican Governor in this story.

They also want $4 million to help loggers.

The Pi Press says the state is poised to get a little greener.

USA Today mentions Minnesota (specifically Pawlenty's switch from trying to cut state subsidized health care a few years ago and now supports universal health care for kids) in this story on efforts by states to expand health care coverage. DFL Senator Linda Berglin will release her plan on Wednesday.

DFL House Speaker Margaret Kelliher talks to Star Tribune columnist Lori Sturdevant.

A proposal for $4 drugs.

The Star Tribune has a story about the state pension fund: "Is the state pension fund underfunded?"

The Legislative Auditor will weigh in on this as well. The office release its findings later this month.

Congress

MPR has a story on where the Minnesota delegation stands on Iraq. Kline doesn't comment.

MSNBC has a story saying GOP Senator Norm Coleman doesn't support any troop increase in Iraq.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says Congress can't do much on the issue when asked what he'll do if Coleman and other GOP senators don't support a troop increase. He made the comments on Fox News Sunday.

The Mankato Free Press says DFL Congressman Tim Walz is eager to address issues.

The New York Times calls Walz an "alpha male Democrat."

AP has a story saying ethanol will drive the farm bill (DFL Congressman Collin Peterson mentioned).

He's also mentioned in this story that says Christian groups will lobby to have the farm bill address hunger and other issues.

Some farmers and ranchers say they're not happy about the ethanol boom.

AP has a story saying Congress may permanently ban drilling in ANWR (Ramstad mentioned as a co-sponsor of those efforts).

Insight News says Ellison, McCollum and Klobuchar are friends to the worker.

2008

Pawlenty is mentioned in this Time Magazine story saying conservatives aren't happy with the current crop of '08 GOP presidential candidates.

Tim Penny, a former DFL Congressman and Independence party candidate for governor, tells the Star Tribune he's backing Arizona Senator John McCain for President. That now means two of the three major party candidates for governor in 2002 are backing McCain (Governor Pawlenty is the other).

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak backs Obama.

The Washington Post's Howard Kurtz writes in his column that former North Carolina Senator John Edwards mocks his political consultants in a pre-packaged video made to look like a documentary. Minnesota's own video blogger (is it vlogger?) Chuck Olsen is involved.

The NY Times writes an interesting memo comparing the packaged Rudy Giuliani vs. the one revealed in their political playbooks.

2010
Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner starts getting ready for a run for gov. MPR and the AP have stories.

Blog Watch

Smart Politics wonders if immigration is the unspoken issue in Minnesota politics. I wouldn't characterize it as unspoken. Remember that Pawlenty ad?

Minnesota Policy Soup gets into the game.

TPT is inviting bloggers, lawmakers, etc. to write some posts on this site. Intersting idea but I wish they would post who they are at the end of their post so readers have an idea of who they are.

Quote of the Day

"We're a fiscally moderate caucus." DFL House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher who was outlining some of their key legislative proposals.

Final Thought

The Wall Street Journal and MSNBC writes that the U.S. Senate loses its candy when Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) lost his re-election bid. Side note, I grew up a few miles from the Just Born plant in Bethlehem. Gotta love them Mike and Ikes.

Session sounds retreat

Posted at 12:01 PM on January 8, 2007 by Mike Mulcahy (1 Comments)

After meeting for a couple days the Legislature is going on a retreat Tuesday.

Prof. Larry Jacobs at the Humphrey Institute is hosting the gathering. He says, "The purpose is to focus the Legislature on the shared challenges facing the entire state. This is first retreat of the entire Legislature."

The topics include: Minnesota's place in the global economy, Minnesota's changing demographics, and technology and the global economy.

A highlight looks to be a lunchtime panel featuring former govs. Wendell Anderson, Al Quie and
Arne Carlson along with former Rep. Martin Sabo (who was also speaker of the Minnesota House before he went to Washington).

Just in case you were wondering where your legislator is tomorrow.

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