The Daily Digest: 2-2-07

Posted at 10:10 AM on February 2, 2007 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

Clean energy bill gets out of its first Senate Committee. The Pi Press and MPR have stories.

Smoking ban bill gets out of its first House Committee. The Pi Press, Forum Communications and MPR have stories.

The Star Tribune goes outside of the Capitol for their smoking ban story.

AP says Pawlenty raised $285,000 for the inaugural.

AP says a House Committee moves a bill that calls for greater disclosure of campaign dough.

The Grand Rapids Herald Review says their local legislators support a gas tax increase.

There's also a push for a statewide insurance pool.

KARE-11 focuses on the push to legalize ticket scalping.

Star Tribune columnist Dennis Anderson tries his best to convince lawmakers that the dedicated funding bill should be focused only on conservation and wetlands. In the interest of full disclosure, MPR would see funding under some of the plans.

Congress
AP and MPR say GOP Senator Norm Coleman sees some obstacles in the D,M and E fight but warns of a fight.

Forum Communications says Coleman is still studying Bush's farm proposal.

He also criticizes Democrats and Move On.org on the resolution in this Knight Ridder story.

USA Today says a troop increase is a tough sell for GOP Senators on the ballot in '08 (Coleman mentioned).

The Star Tribune (via the NY Times) says Coleman and DFL Senator Amy Klobuchar voted for the minimum wage increase.

Forum Communications also marks Klobuchar's first month in the Senate.

Klobuchar also writes an opinion column calling for the federal government to negotiate drug prices for Medicare.

The St. Cloud Times says Klobuchar is also going to Sartell on Saturday.

The Rochester Post Bulletin says DFL Congressman Tim Walz wants an increase in farm spending.

GOP Congressman John Kline tells KARE-11 that he's not happy that a soldier was turned away from the VA even though he told health professionals he had suicidal thoughts.

AP says military officials posted stories on DFL Congressman Keith Ellison's election in the detention center at Gitmo.

Ellison also criticizes Holocaust denial.

DFL Congressman Collin Peterson tells the Mankato Free Press that the debate over the farm bill is just starting.

2008

The Star Tribune says Pawlenty is drawing more national interest and sits down with reporters.

It must have worked since Politico writes about him. He also says none of the GOP candidates, with the exception of Sam Brownback, can match the purity litmus test.

Real Clear Politics ponders a McCain/Pawlenty ticket.

CQ says Texas homebuilder Bob Perry gives to McCain. He also gave to A Stronger America-Minnesota which helped Pawlenty get reelected. A possible link or a donor who likes the GOP? Partisans take your sides.

CQ picks up on what every other journalist in Minnesota reported yesterday.

A columnist with Real Clear Politics wonders if Al Franken can keep his cool.

The Jewish Daily Forward says Mike Ciresi is getting ready to get into the Senate race.

Roll Call says Coleman is in good financial shape. The story also says DFL Congressman Tim Walz has $30,000 in the bank.

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