Polinaut: April 17, 2007 Archive

The Daily Digest: 4-17-07

Posted at 9:20 AM on April 17, 2007 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

The digest starts today on a sad note in light of what happened at Virginia Tech. My thoughts and prayers are with those who were affected by shootings.

The daily business in the Legislature will continue today. The Minnesota House will begin taking up its budget bills today. The Senate will continue taking up individual bills.

The Pi Press says the Senate passed a bill that requires lawmakers and commissioners to take a break before going into the lobbying business.

The Senate also passed a bill banning more products banning mercury and requires some atv riders to wear helmets.

The smoking ban proposal moves along in the House.

Forum Communications says the ban may affect farmers.

WCCO has a story on the proposed drink tax increase.

Gov. Pawlenty spoke at the U of M Law School before the school's federalist society.

Muslim cabbies have to carry all passengers even if the passenger is carrying alcohol. AP, MPR and the Star Tribune have stories.

3M chemicals are found in fish in the Minneapolis chain of lakes. MPR and the Star Tribune have stories.

Congress

President Bush uses the sacrifice of a Minnesota soldier in preparation for Iraq showdown.

The House Judiciary Committee wants to interview Rachel Paulose.

The Hill says FAA officials erred when they tried to increases taxes on small aircraft to pay for a new, updated air traffic control system. DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar is mentioned.

2008

USA Today says Democratic leaders raised four times the money they did in 2005. DFL Rep. Collin Peterson is mentioned.

The Star Tribune details which presidential candidates got money from Minnesotans.

The St. Cloud Times says GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann hauled in $260,000.

Al Franken and Mike Ciresi will be in Granite Falls on Saturday.

The Hill says Rep. Stephanie Herseth, D-SD, backs John Edwards for President. DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar is also mentioned as an Edwards supporter.

Blog Watch

MN Campaign Report says the Strib didn't listen to his concerns about Rachel Paulose

MDE has video of Rosie O'Donnell saying she'll max out her contribution to Al Franken.

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Minnows vs. Ducks

Posted at 11:00 PM on April 17, 2007 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

The Minnesota House is now in hour eight in the debate over the environment and natural resources budget bill. It's been a long and often dull debate (no offense lawmakers). One issue that caught my interest was the debate over an amendment that would reduce the number of fish farms. Apparently there's a belief that the environmental impact of fish farms is reducing the duck population. Duck hunters don't like that since the state's duck population is already dwindling.

But..

The state's bait shops like the fish farms because that's where they get their minnows. Minnows are used for fishing and fishing is big business in Minnesota. I never knew such a debate over minnows and water levels could draw such passions. At one point during the debate, Rep. Dean Urdahl, R-Gover City, said:

"This is the worst minnow disaster since Gilligan."

Apparently lawmakers aren't the only ones talking minnows and ducks and water levels. Check out the debate on this forum.

The debate over this issue lasted at least an hour and was settled with a promise to study the issue and restrict some fish farm licenses.

There's one other reason this issue was enlightening.

It's the first time House DFLers openly disagreed with each other on the House floor since they took the majority.

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