Polinaut: January 31, 2007 Archive

The Daily Digest: 1-31-07

Posted at 8:50 AM on January 31, 2007 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

Minnesota lawmakers tackle global warming. MPR, the Star Tribune and the Pi Press have stories on the rare presentation in the House chamber.

Governor Pawlenty will be leading a trade mission to India. MPR, the Star Tribune, the Pi Press, The Times of India and the AP have stories.

Lawmakers also rolled out their early childhood legislation. The Pi Press says some of the lawmakers were singing off of the caucus key and say all day kindergarten will be phased in.

Forum Communications says the reason is money.

The Star Tribune focuses on a new early childhood education allowance in its story.

AP says Pawlenty signs a bill that conforms Minnesota's tax code to the federal tax code.

ECM says veterans gathered at the capitol to outline their needs.

Minnesota Monitor says a bill will be introduced this week that would allow municipalities to provide domestic partner benefits.

City Pages has a story saying the Minnesota Department of Corrections is shifting costs and prisoners to counties.

ECM says MNSCU wants $77 million more.

The Duluth News Tribune says several senators are receptive to DECC funding.

AP covers a rally for a statewide smoking ban. The bill will be heard in a House Committee on Thursday.

Congress

GOP Senator Norm Coleman is mentioned in this story on the GOP being divided over the Iraq strategy.

The Washington Post mentions Coleman as one of several GOP Senators debating five different troop resolution plans.

Coleman and Klobuchar introduce legislation that tries to keep the spy plane in Minnesota.

AP says Klobuchar is calling for action on global warming.

She also wants a continuation of the MILC program.

UPI has a story on a bill targeting gene discrimination. GOP Congressman John Kline is skeptical that it is a problem.

The Hill says GOP Congresswoman Michele Bachmann has yet to say if she'll support a resolution opposing the troop surge.

DFL Congressman Collin Peterson says the Doha Trade Agreement better be good.

The Australian News says Peterson also opposes any cuts to the federal subsidy program.

2006

Pawlenty's fundraising sets a record. All of the reports have to be mailed in today. The Star Tribune, the Pi Press and AP have stories. The big question is how much A Stronger America Minnesota (which backed Pawlenty) and The Alliance for a Better Minnesota (which backed DFL candidate Mike Hatch) raised and spent.

2008

The Hill says GOP Congressman John Kline has been named management chairman of the NRCC.

The Concord Monitor says Arizona Senator John McCain finds friends up north (Pawlenty) and out west (Utah Governor John Huntsman).

The Argus Leader mentions Pawlenty's VP prospects in this column along with South Dakota Senator John Thune's prospects.

Checks and Balances wonders if Tammy Lee will run for U.S. Senate. Lee lost her bid to win in the 5th in November.

Roll Call writes about a Republican who wants to challenge DFL Congressman Tim Walz.

The story follows posts by A Blue Stem Prairie and The Wind Beneath the Right Wing .

CORRECTION
I made a mistake on this post (thanks for letting me know). The original post from A Blue Stem Prairie is here and references a story from the New Ulm Journal. The original post was on January 25th. The Wind Beneath the Right Wing post referred to the Roll Call story. I apologize for my screw up.

2008 RNC Convention

CQ details the RNC convention with a history and restaurant guide of our fair cities.

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Franken tells lawmakers in DC and St. Paul that he's in for Senate

Posted at 5:18 PM on January 31, 2007 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)

Two Minnesota state senators (Minnesota State Senators Mary Olson, DFL – Bemidji, and Sharon Erickson Ropes, DFL – Winona) confirmed to me that Franken told them he was running for the U.S. Senate. The director of Franken's Political Action Committee would not confirm or deny Franken's plans and wouldn't comment on Franken's private conversations.

A source with knowledge of Franken's plans expects the he will make an announcement about his decision on his final radio show on February 14th.

The Star Tribune has a story here.

Here's the AP story:

WASHINGTON (AP) - A senior Democratic official from Minnesota says comedian Al Franken has decided to run for U-S. Senate in Minnesota. The official didn't want to be identified because Franken has not made an announcement. The political director of Franken's Midwest Values Political Action Committee wouldn't comment. The news wasn't unexpected. Franken has been calling members of the Minnesota congressional delegation to get their input on a run, and he announced this week that he'd leave his show on Air America Radio on February 14th. If Franken wins the Democratic primary in Minnesota, he'd face Republican first-term Senator Norm Coleman, one of the Democrats' top targets. Minnesota Republican Party Chairman Ron Carey said he's confident Minnesotans will reject what he called "Franken's divisive, scorched earth attacks."

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-01-31-07 1838EST

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