Capitol View: February 22, 2007 Archive

The Daily Digest: 2-22-07

Posted at 8:47 AM on February 22, 2007 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

Happy Birthday Dr. J!

The Minnesota Senate votes to keep their per diem increase as the public watches with baited breath. The Star Tribune, MPR, the Pi Press, AP, Forum Communications and Fox9 have stories.

Pete and repeat were on a fence. Repeat fell off. Who fell off? That's what is going on with the Labor Day school opening debate. A committee in the Minnesota Senate approved a bill that would repeal the state law that forbids schools to open before Labor Day. The Pi Press, AP, the Star Tribune and Forum Communications have stories.

A same Senate committee also approved a cyber bullying proposal.

A House Committee discusses tuition reciprocity.

The Pi Press and MPR have more stories on the HPV vaccine. The bill's author is changing the measure.

MPR also has a story on the environment issues at the Legislaure.

The House Commerce Committee holds a hearing on a proposed change to the predatory pricing law so some drugs can be sold at a cheaper price. MPR says small pharmacies are worried about the bill.

The Pi Press says one of the founders of Greenpeace say nukes are green.

Forum Communications says legislative leaders seem to be on board on a sales tax increase in Bemidji but the Senate may vote to block funding for a hockey center in St. Cloud.

The St. Cloud Times says a bill to aid veterans gets through a House committee.

Gov. Pawlenty was up north earlier this week. Here's a story on his visit.

GOP Rep. Laura Brod of New Prague has a letter to the editor saying identity theft and fraud are more common so there need to be protections to the election system. She questions why Secretary of State Mark Ritchie doesn't want to require photo ids at the polls.

Congress

An antiwar group is established in Minnesota and supporters say they'll lobby Minnesota's delegation.

The Redwood Falls Gazette covers GOP Sen. Norm Coleman's visit to New Ulm that focused on health care.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar tells the Winona Daily News that she'll work for tuition breaks, says Red Wing shoe is an example and makes a stop in Rochester.

Klobuchar also talks ag policy in Worthington with DFL Rep. Tim Walz.

MPR also has a story on a farm bill hearing with Walz hears suggestions on the next Farm Bill.

Walz says he'll try to get funding for a Goodview radium treatment plant.

GOP Rep. Jim Ramstad was in California to push for mental health parity.

The New York Times also mentions Ramstad in a story saying the largest hospital chains are pushing health coverage for all.

City Hall Scoop says DFL Rep. Betty McCollum is considering an appropriation that would send District Energy's lines underneath downtown St. Paul.

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann will hold an open house at her office tonight (I incorrectly reported that the event was yesterday)

The Arizona Daily Star says the switch to switchgrass isn't so easy. DFL Rep. Collin Peterson is mentioned.

Peterson also says the farm bill will have less money for commodities because of high price projections.

2008

The Mankato Free Press says DFLer Al Franken is trying to use his humor seriously.

He was also in Albert Lea.

The New York Times says Franken is one the wannabe politicians who wrote a book. It's all the rage with political types.

A CBS poll also says voters are divided over celebrity candidates (read Al Franken).

The Star Tribune picks up on a Minnesota Daily story that asks if former VP Al Gore will get an honorary degree at the U of M.

Roger Simon plays make believe with the '08 presidential race and believes Arizona Senator John McCain will win. Guess who is McCain's VP in Simon's dreams? Simon is the chief political columnist for Politico. Funny, he didn't mention my 2008 record breaking lottery jackpot win in his land of make believe. Oh, that was MY make believe world. Sigh.

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