Polinaut: May 11, 2007 Archive

The Daily Digest: 5-11-07

Posted at 10:19 AM on May 11, 2007 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

There are nine days (single digits baby!) left in the legislative session. Update - Rachel Stassen-Berger points out it's ten days until the end of the sesssion. Shame on her for ruining my day. Props to her for being able to count.

Gov. Pawlenty has signed 58 bills, vetoed seven and line-item vetoed two.

The Minnesota House is expected to vote on an income tax increase on Minnesota's top earners to pay for property tax relief. A new MPR poll finds that a wide majority of likely voters support the idea. Here's a story on the poll. Here are the results.

A poll on the gas tax will be released tonight for All Things Considered.

The Pi Press says the income tax on the wealthy is headed towards a veto.

AP and Forum Communications detail the tax for tax swap in the Senate.

The House and Senate are also expected to take up a bill that bans smoking in bars and restaurants. The Star Tribune, the Pi Press and AP say the plan was altered to include more exemptions.

The House eases a speeding ticket rule.

Two former governors encourage greater investment in education.

Gov. Pawlenty heads up to Walker for the fishing opener.

Congress

GOP Sen. Norm Coleman lunches with some officials from Iraq.

He also hopes for a troop drawdown in 2008.

Gov. Pawlenty writes a letter (with other governors) urging Congress to fund SCHIP.

President Bush signs a bill that renames the Duluth Courthouse. DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar and DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar are mentioned.

The mayor of St. Joseph is leaving his post to become political director for DFL Rep. Tim Walz.

A VA investigation can't substantiate a claim that a veteran was turned away from treatment. GOP Rep. John Kline is mentioned.

DFL Rep. Betty McCollum, DFL Rep. Keith Ellison and DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar have signed onto a bill calling for a Department of Peace.

The House passes a disaster aid bill. DFL Rep. Collin Peterson is mentioned.

U.S. Attorney

Gonzalez says they're watching Minnesota U.S. Attorney Rachel Paulose and will bounce her if she doesn't improve.

The National Journal reports the White House withheld e-mail from political director Karl Rove regarding the U.S. Attorney situation.

Blog Watch

Centrisity wishes Minnesota a happy birthday (it's statehood day).

Minneapolis Confidential details the Heffelfinger and Paulose timeline.

SCSU Scholars has some observations on the tax incidence study that is frequently mentioned in the Legislature.

Is the DCCC looking to mount a challenge to Ramstad?

Posted at 10:58 AM on May 11, 2007 by Tom Scheck

Politics in Minnesota says so. We can't link to their newsletter but can paste their info here:

DCCC Looks To MN-03

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has been candidate shopping in Minnesota's Third Congressional District, currently occupied by Republican Congressman Jim Ramstad. In previous years, the DCCC never gave the district much attention because Ramstad had built a moderate-conservative voting record and the western metro district leaned heavily to the GOP in local and statewide elections.

But things have changed. national Democrats are looking to build on their majority in the U.S. House. With their top-tier candidate in the Sixth Congressional District, former MnDOT Commissioner El Tinklenberg, dropping out, the national party is looking to the next prime opportunity. Since Minnesota is poised to lose one congressional seat in the 2012 redistricting, national and state Democrats know they need to win one suburban seat to maintain their five seats in the state.

The district has been trending purple in recent elections. Last year, Senator Amy Klobuchar (DFL) won there with more than 55% of the vote. Presidential candidates Al Gore and John Kerry came within four and three points of George Bush. By a margin of 6-5, the district has more DFL state senators and there are an even number of DFL and GOP state representatives. These numbers should be encouraging for any potential congressional candidates.

Also encouraging should be Ramstad's record. Ramstad has been in Congress since 1990 and previously served in the state senate from 1980-1990. That's a 28-year voting record to comb through. That's thousands of votes that could come back to haunt him, like his 1995 vote to abolish the U.S. Department of Education. And let's not forget his votes to continue the unpopular Iraq War.

We know that '06 Hennepin County Attorney candidate Andy Luger is interested in running. But national Democrats are looking for a candidate who can raise the two to three million dollars to run a successful campaign. The DCCC has been quietly talking to several current and former state lawmakers, business executives and local government officials. Our understanding is that some of those talks have been fruitful.

Hillary coming to Minnesota on June first.

Posted at 11:04 AM on May 11, 2007 by Tom Scheck

I didn't get a chance to post this yesterday because of the poll story, legislative stuff and a softball game (a guy gets to have some fun every now and then).

Former DFL Rep. Betty Folliard came through the Capitol press room yesterday to tell us that New York Senator (and candidate for president) Hillary Clinton will hold a few fundraisers in Minneapolis on June first and MAY hold a public event. I'll post more info when I get it.

You sure this is the best spot for the opener?

Posted at 12:31 PM on May 11, 2007 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

Tony Stoering of St. Paul (left) and Jeff Audette (right) decided to paddle their canoes up to the Capitol with the hopes of convincing the Senate to pass the Outdoor and Cultural Legacy Act. The Senate is debating the proposal right now.

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But what's its carbon footprint?

Posted at 2:06 PM on May 11, 2007 by Mike Mulcahy

If you walk into the Capitol rotunda today and look up, this is what you see.

"What's the big deal?" asked Mr. Scheck.

I explained to him that this is the one day every year when the chandelier is lit. That's because it's Statehood Day. Yes, Mr. Scheck, 149 years ago today Minnesota became a state.

"Oh," replied Mr. Scheck, "write more in the blog, will you?"

Squeaky Door Radio

Posted at 5:42 PM on May 11, 2007 by Tim Pugmire

CLICK, EEERRRRR, squeeeeeaaaaak, BAAMM.

We interrupt this edition of Great Moments in Radio Sound Effects for a news update from the State Capitol.

Minnesota Public Radio was the rare recipient today (Friday) of a legislative "prop" and a legislative "dis" during a House floor debate on taxes.

Rep. Nora Slawik, DFL-Maplewood, spoke in support of a plan to increase income taxes on wealthy Minnesotans and use the money to lower property taxes statewide. She also mentioned the result of a new MPR poll showing strong support for the plan.

Republicans railed against the bill, which Gov. Pawlenty has promised to veto. Rep. Tony Cornish, R-Good Thunder, didn't like Slawik's argument or her sources.

"And MPR, oh my gosh," Cornish said. "I would rather go to the Farmers Almanac and guess the weather than go to a radio station that has some weird guy on there that makes squeaky door noises all day. Give me a break. MPR, if that's your source for information, you've lost the election already."

Okay, so Cornish might not be a big public radio fan. Squeaky door noises are an acquired taste.

Coming up later, we'll be answering listener questions on hinge maintenance. Now back to our regular programming.

WHAAM, creeeeeeek, BUZZZZZZZZ.

The Taxpayers League ramps up pressure to prevent a veto override

Posted at 11:31 PM on May 11, 2007 by Tom Scheck

The Minnesota Taxpayers League is ramping up its pressure on Republican supporters of a gas tax increase. The House/Senate conference committee is putting forward a transportation plan that include a nickel a gallon gas tax increase. The Minnesota Taxpayers League sent out this notice to their members urging them to contact GOP Rep. Kathy Tinglestad and GOP Rep. Jim Abeler. This e-mail showcases that it could be close to getting the necessary votes to override:

With a showdown over the tax-laden transportation bill imminent, the pressure will be on a few members of the Minnesota House to override Governor Pawlenty’s impending veto.

We can’t allow this to happen. If the tax-and-spenders in the Legislature find they are able to override just one of Governor Pawlenty’s vetoes, then get ready for a whole smorgasbord of tax increases.

Representatives Jim Abeler and Kathy Tingelstad have been on record as previously supporting a gas tax increase (in addition to supporting the current transportation bill which includes a 7 ½ cent gas tax increase, a wheelage tax, tab fees and a Metro area sales tax for transit). With gas prices at all time highs, do we really need to pay more at the pump than we already are?

Call or email these Representatives today. Even if they’re not your legislator, a vote to override the Governor means not only another wheelage tax for everyone in Anoka County, but sales tax increases all over the Metro without voter referenda!

Contact Jim Abeler and Kathy Tingelstad and ask them not to override any of the Governor’s vetoes. Tell them you’re taxed enough and tell them to stick with the Governor and the rest of their House Republicans.

Extras needed!

Posted at 11:42 PM on May 11, 2007 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

The Minnesota House is taking up the smoking ban bill at 11:20 on a Friday night. The bill bans smoking in bars and restaurants throughout the state. There are a few exemptions. They include a a disabled veterans rest camp, farm buildings, heavy commercial vehicles and theaters where an actor can light up.

That leads to this question: What happens if a bar owner puts a stage in his place and has a regular play going on throughout the night? Afterall, all the world is a stage. A true cultural legacy bill. Audience participation encouraged.

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