Polinaut: May 23, 2007 Archive

The Daily Digest: 5-23-07

Posted at 10:58 AM on May 23, 2007 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

Happy Birthday to Brian Bakst with the Associated Press.

The press corps starts writing about the accomplishments and failures of the legislative session. The Pi Press, AP and Forum Communications have stories.

Lawmakers and the public are waiting to see whether Gov. Pawlenty vetoes the tax bill and makes swiss cheese (through line-item vetoes) of the other budget bills. MPR, the St. Cloud Times, the Mankato Free Press and AP have stories.

The tax bill includes a provision regarding the megamall and a line of credit for the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul.

Even though the tax bill could be vetoed, a special session is unlikely.

Pawlenty and DFL legislative leaders do separate fly arounds to talk up the session. The Duluth News Tribune, the Mankato Free Press, the Rochester Post Bulletin, the St. Cloud Times and the Fargo Forum have stories.

MPR has a look at the health care bill.

MPR and the Strib also take a look at transportation.

The Minnesota Daily writes on the higher ed bill.

Minneapolis public schools will get more money.

Minnesota is the first state to hold merchants more accountable regarding sensitive information.

Other consumer protection measures also become law.

DFL Senate President Jim Metzen is arrested on a DWI charge. AP and the Star Tribune have stories. FOX9's Tom Lyden digs through the garbage. Really.

The outdoors folks say "wait til next year."

A Woodbury radiation center is in doubt.

Pawlenty is one of several governors asking Congress to probe gas prices.

Congress

GOP Sen. Norm Coleman wants alternatives to the current passport plan and wants to crack down on offshore tax shelters.

Coleman is also concerned about arms smuggling in Gaza.

The Star Tribune's Brady Averill writes on CHIP, DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar holding the gavel and U.S. Canada issues. Good Luck Brady. You have a good clip file. The Star Tribune's Washington bureau is now dark.

Klobuchar to lunch with the First Lady.

DFL Rep. Tim Walz is one of several lawmakers advocating for a pay hike for the military.

GOP Rep. John Kline votes present on an effort to reprimand PA Congressman John Murtha. The National Journal and the Hill have stories.

ABC News analyzes a poll on Muslim Americans. DFL Rep. Keith Ellison is mentioned.

DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar is one of several lawmakers calling for a clarification on federal wetlands policy.

2008

AP has a look at Al Franken's worth.

Hillary Clinton is coming to Minneapolis

There will be no digest for the rest of the week. It will return on Tuesday. Have a nice Memorial Day weekend.

Justice had concerns about Heffelfinger's work on Native American issues

Posted at 4:54 PM on May 23, 2007 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

AP has the story:

Justice had concerns about Heffelfinger's work on Indian issues

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Justice Department had concerns about the amount of time that former U-S attorney for Minnesota Tom Heffelfinger spent on American Indian issues.
That's according to testimony at a House Judiciary Committee hearing today by Monica Goodling, the Justice Department's former White House liaison.
It's the first public possible explanation of why Heffelfinger, who resigned last year, was put on a list of prosecutors to be considered for dismissal.
Goodling made the comment in response to a question by Minnesota congressman Keith Ellison.
Heffelfinger says it's the first time he heard any reason that the Justice Department had any dissatisfaction with his performance. He says he did devote a lot of time to Indian issues, and that his time was warranted.

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