Polinaut: May 14, 2007 Archive

The Daily Digest: 5-14-07

Posted at 9:17 AM on May 14, 2007 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

There is one week remaining in the legislative session. There is still no overall budget agreement. The Star Tribune says the GOP has the edge going into the final week. The Pi Press details what's in play.

The House and Senate may take up the transportation bill today. The DFL gets some ammo from this Star Tribune story saying property taxes are paying for the lion's share of road and bridge projects.

MPR says home foreclosures are expected to rise even with new legislation

Health advocates cheer the passage of the smoking ban legislation. It will be the last call for smokers in the bar. The Star Tribune says it will alter smoking patterns throughout the state.

The governor catches a few fish in the opener.

Congress

A new MPR poll says a majority of Minnesotans want a troop withdrawal by the fall.

The Star Tribune wonders if GOP Sen. Norm Coleman is an independent thinker of a political chameleon.

GOP Rep. Jim Ramstad is one of six Congressman questioning monitoring of Vietnam apparel.

2008

The Fix sits down with Republican Randy Demmer, who is challenging DFL Rep. Tim Walz.

Blog Watch

A Blue Stem Prairie points out that Demmer missed work from his real job (the Legislature) to prepare for his job interview for a possible future job (Congress).

Minnesota Monitor has a story saying DFL Rep. Keith Ellison believes Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez is deliberately ignorant.

Finally a Note to candidates: make sure you have the right talking points when you go to Packerland.

Coleman speech on Midday and poll numbers

Posted at 12:04 PM on May 14, 2007 by Tom Scheck

GOP Sen. Norm Coleman gave a speech to the U of M's Humphrey Institute earlier this morning. You can listen to it on MPR's Midday Program at noon or anytime here.

A poll with Coleman's approval ratings and head to head numbers with DFLer Mike Ciresi and DFLer Al Franken will be released this afternoon on MPR's All Things Considered.

UPDATE: Here's a story on the poll. Here are the poll results.

Smells like pavement.

Posted at 1:14 PM on May 14, 2007 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

The Minnesota House is taking up the transportation bill right now. There were plenty of construction lobbyists, city and county officials and others who were lobbying legislators as they went into the House chamber. Everyone is watching whether the House can get enough votes (90) to override a gubernatorial veto. The Senate will take the bill up after the House vote.

Update:
The House passed the bill 90 to 43.

The Republicans who voted for the bill are: Dennis Ozment, Bud Heidgerken, Dean Urdahl, Neil Peterson, Ron Erhardt, Kathy Tingelstad and Jim Abeler.

The DFLers who voted against the bill are: Tom Rukavina and Mary Ellen Otremba.

At least two Republicans say they won't vote to override a veto. A source says the DFLers may be open to voting for the bill.

Let the horse trading begin!

Comment on this post