Polinaut: April 20, 2007 Archive

The Daily Digest: 4-20-07

Posted at 10:17 AM on April 20, 2007 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

The House wraps up their final spending bill today. The big kahuna, the health and human services budget bill, is on the docket. AP says a divided House took up the higher ed, the jobs bill and the state government finance bill.

Part of the jobs bill debate focused on a hockey museum.

The Star Tribune and Forum Communications has stories on the higher ed bill.

A gay rights group holds a rally in support of domestic partner benefits and gay rights. Domestic partner benefits are included in the state government finance bill.

MPR says a mental health package is moving through the Legislature.

The state may have been overbilled from autism center.

MPR's Midday program talks gas tax.

The Vikings release their stadium plans just one month before the session ends and with no payment plan in place. AP, MPR, KARE-11 and the Star Tribune have stories.

WCCO reality checks traffic congestion.

Congress

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar will give the Democratic response to the President's weekly radio address. Klobuchar's office also says Klobuchar, DFL Rep. Tim Walz, DFL Rep. Keith Ellison, DFL Rep. Betty McCollum and DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar will hold a town hall meeting on veteran's issues on Saturday afternoon in Richfield.

Klobuchar will also visit Hutchinson.

The Princeton Union Eagle says the war's death toll concerns GOP Sen. Norm Coleman.

DFL Rep. Tim Walz wants an independent ethics watchdog for the House.

GOP Rep. John Kline has an op-ed on the reintegration of soldiers coming home from war.

DFL Rep. Betty McCollum is one of several lawmakers who want President Bush to reconsider his proposed cuts to the only English broadcasts in Thailand.

DFL Rep. Collin Peterson says the Bush Administration is using a disaster aid package as an excuse to oppose a supplemental spending bill.

ABC News says Democrats are rolling in the special interest dough.

Veterans talk about their experiences at a forum hosted by DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar.

2008

ABC News also looks at Al Franken's fundraising.

Pawlenty and House leaders on Almanac tonight

Posted at 10:59 AM on April 20, 2007 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

Gov. Pawlenty and the House leaders will be on TPT's Almanac tonight. Here's the producer's rundown.

What's the over/under on how many times Pawlenty says the word "veto"?

Comment on this post

The veto

Posted at 1:01 PM on April 20, 2007 by Tom Scheck

There is a lot of talk about Governor Pawlenty's veto threats on taxes and other items. Well, apparently some of his key supporters are helping him with the ink. The above photo comes from the MN GOP. Pawlenty also added that others are giving him pens as well.

"I've gotten so many veto pens as gifts... Everywhere I go now I get a veto pen. I have ones that are as large as this podium and boxes full of other ones."

Pawlenty also added that he has a veto stamp. DFL leaders in the House and Senate say they hope the governor is open minded on some of their proposal. They also argue that threatening to veto is not compromising. We'll know in a few weeks which side wins out.

UPDATE: AP has a story on Pawlenty and the veto.