Polinaut: January 11, 2007 Archive

Governor's response to extended guard deployment

Posted at 7:53 AM on January 11, 2007 by Mike Mulcahy

Gov. Tim Pawlenty issued this statement:

“I am extremely disappointed and frustrated that the tour of duty for 2,600 Minnesota National Guard soldiers in Iraq apparently will be extended. This decision by federal officials is not consistent with the expectation or understanding provided to our soldiers. It’s unfair to them and their families. It’s extremely important that all of us continue to support members of our military and their families in every possible way.”

Congressional reaction to president's new Iraq plan.

Posted at 7:55 AM on January 11, 2007 by Mike Mulcahy

Here's a sampling from Minnesota's delegation.

First GOP Sen. Norm Coleman:

I applaud the President for admitting mistakes and recognizing a need to change strategy in Iraq. However, I disagree with the President’s decision to provide a troop surge in Baghdad. My concern about a troop surge is compounded by the impact it will have on Minnesota National Guard troops in Iraq and their families here at home. I am extremely disappointed by the news that our National Guard soldiers in Iraq will have their tour of duty extended. When I visited them a few weeks ago in Iraq, they were excited about coming home in March. At a time when our National Guard troops and families are making the ultimate commitment to serve our country and defend our freedom, they deserve better than to be told only a short time before their scheduled return that their service is being extended.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar had this to say:

“With this speech, President Bush continues to take his failed Iraq policy in the wrong direction. Sending even more American troops is not the change of course that the American people want, or that our military forces deserve, or that Iraq needs to halt its civil war. A number of the president’s fellow Republicans in Congress also believe he’s not taking the right approach.

As of Thanksgiving, this war has lasted longer than World War II. And after nearly four years of intensive military involvement in Iraq, including more than 3,000 American deaths, the president should be focused on reducing our troop presence in Iraq instead of putting even more American servicemen and women in harm’s way.”

First District DFL Rep Tim Walz held a conference call after the speech, and his office released some quotes from it:

The President has been wrong at every turn and tonight he continues down that path. After listening to his speech I must say that he is right about one thing - a failed state is a dangerous thing and that's exactly what we have in Afghanistan, where a large portion of the country has fallen back under Taliban control. No one has been more wrong about Iraq, more consistently than the President. Tonight, yet again, the President has his strategy backwards. We need a diplomatic solution that includes everyone in the region, not a military escalation like he proposed tonight.

The Daily Digest: 1-11-07

Posted at 8:10 AM on January 11, 2007 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

It's rare that a presidential speech has an impact on everyday Minnesotans. But President Bush's speech last night means the Minnesota National Guard soldiers serving in Iraq will have their deployments extended. MPR, the Star Tribune and KARE-11 have reaction from some who have family members serving in that country.

Governor Pawlenty and a spokesman for the Minnesota National Guard expressed their disappointment with the extension.

All of this comes at a time when another Minnesota soldier dies in Iraq. MPR and the AP have stories on Sgt. James M. Wosika Jr. of St. Paul.

Legislature

Senate DFLers outline their health proposal. MPR, the Star Tribune, ECM Publishers, the Pi Press and the AP have stories.

Governor Pawlenty will outline his proposal today. The Minnesota House will take up a bill that makes changes to the state tax code (basically it lines the state tax form up with the federal changes done late last year) on the floor today.

House GOP announces its crime package and takes dead aim at Minneapolis and St. Paul. MPR and the AP have stories.

The Star Tribune takes a look at the higher ed issues facing the Legislature.

The House Higher Ed Committee held hearing yesterday and took testimony from students. Some call for tuition cuts. The Mesabi Daily News, the St. Cloud Times and Forum Communications have stories.

The Minnesota Senate raises its daily allowance. The Star Tribune and the AP have stories.

Pawlenty appoints former Auditor Pat Anderson to head up DOER. The Star Tribune, the Pi Press and ECM Publishers have stories. Anderson lost her re-election bid to DFLer Rebecca Otto.

A Pi Press editorial wonders if DFLers in the House and Senate are overreaching.

MPR says No Child Left Behind turns five and state lawmakers don't think it's working.

TPT's Almanac at the Capitol interviews DFL Assistant Senate Majority Leader Tarryl Clark and GOP Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem.

Congress

Norm Coleman is in most of the major dailies because of his opposition to the troop surge. Here's an AP story and a story in the Chicago Tribune.

The New Ulm Journal also says DFL Congressman Tim Walz is critical of the president's plan.

The Washington Post has a story on the minimum wage increase vote in the U.S. House. GOP Congressman John Kline opposes a minimum wage increase saying a hike "will leave recent economic growth dead in its tracks."

DFL Senator Amy Klobuchar hires the former Farmers Union president.

GOP Congressman Jim Ramstad is mentioned in this UPI story wondering if this is the mental health congress.

The Star Tribune has a story saying DFL Congressman Keith Ellison is named to House Judiciary Committee and that GOP Congressman Michele Bachmann is named to the Financial Services Committee.

Roll Call also says Ellison's political moves surrounding the Koran controversy shows political acumen (subscription required).

DFL Congressman Collin Peterson announces the freshman members of the Ag Committee (Tim Walz is one of them).

Peterson also supports a plan that would give illegal immigrants who work on the farm legal residency.

2008
NPR's Ken Rudin says Coleman is one of the more vulnerable Republicans running for the U.S. Senate but wonders if Al Franken can win statewide.

The Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire says reaction to the Iraq plan is so 2008. Coleman is mentioned.

Checks and Balances says Al Franken is getting ready to leave Air America and will run for Senate.

Franken also submits his opinion on the president's plan to Minnesota Monitor.

2008 RNC Convention
The Pi Press says the St. Paul City Council has finalized the deal.

2010
The Star Tribune says Pawlenty may run for another term.

Blog Watch
Minnesota Monitor gets some alternative views on President Bush's speech.

Let me know if you write or see anything of interest.

Finally, Bob Collins makes the big time.

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Democrats pick Denver

Posted at 10:55 AM on January 11, 2007 by Tom Scheck

AP has the story.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Democrats pick Denver for the 2008 convention,
officials say.

Same old Minnesota House

Posted at 12:35 PM on January 11, 2007 by Tom Scheck

The Minnesota House is now in hour three of a "non-controversial" bill that would conform the state tax system to the federal tax changes made late last year. I'm hearing the entire House will vote in favor of this bill BUT....

There are amendments and points of orders and challenges to the points of order. Do you think the GOP Minority is trying to poke a stick at the new DFL majority? Perhaps they want some material for their political leaflets in two years?

Walz to deliver National Democratic Radio Address

Posted at 5:35 PM on January 11, 2007 by Tom Scheck

Here's the release:

Rep. Walz to Give National Democratic Radio Address Saturday

(Washington, D.C.) - Freshman Rep. Tim Walz (MN-01) will deliver the national Democratic response to President Bush's weekly radio address on Saturday, January 13th. President Bush and Rep. Walz will each deliver a 5 minute address to the nation. The addresses will air at 9am CST / 10am EST on Saturday, January 13th.