The Daily Digest: 5-10-07

Posted at 10:37 AM on May 10, 2007 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

My father in law always says "If you have to buy a meal, buy breakfast." Gov. Tim Pawlenty may be following that belief as he invited DFL legislative leaders to the mansion this morning. I'm told breakfast included french toast, berries and bacon (no pork jokes please). Not much news came out of the breakfast.

The Senate is expected to take up a bill today that raises income taxes on Minnesota's top earners in exchange for property tax relief. The Star Tribune, the Pi Press, AP and Forum Communications have stories.

A transportation conference committee agrees on a nickel gas tax increase. MPR, the Star Tribune, the Pi Press, AP and Forum Communications have stories.

Lawmakers expected to vote on a smoking ban proposal but it's been put off because of a technical issue in the revisor's office. MPR, the Star Tribune and AP have stories on the deal.

A bill that dedicates funding for the outdoors/arts moves through the senate. It gets changed more than a Paris fashion model (ba da bing!). Keep up with the movement in the Star Tribune, the Pi Press and the AP have stories.

A bill to battle mortgage fraud is headed to the governor's desk.

The Mankato Free Press says Pawlenty's vetoes have a local impact.

The House passes an air bag mandate.

Caucuses could be moved up under a bill that passed the Senate.

DFL Rep. Phyllis Kahn says she'll continue to seek cuts in the governor's administration.

A biotech partnership hopes to recruit leading scientists.

The governor is also getting ready for Saturday's fishing opener.

Congress

Most of Minnesota's Congressional delegation say they will support the Iraq funding plan put forward by Democrats.

The Hill says removing the disaster aid from the war funding bill could also put President Bush and the House GOP in a tough spot.

GOP Rep. Jim Ramstad went to the White House to tell the president the war is harming the GOP.

The Hill also says GOP Sen. Norm Coleman will look at a plan that includes benchmarks.

DFL Rep. Collin Peterson questions the FDA on food inspection.

The food czar admitted in the hearing that they lack the funding to do the necessary inspections.

The Hill says GOP Sen. Norm Coleman won't say whether he would support an immigration proposal that he voted for in 2006.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar's chief of staff is leaving to become a lobbyist.

Democrats, including Klobuchar, blame President Bush for the high cost of gasoline.

DFL Rep Keith Ellison tells a black activist that immigration is not harming economic opportunity for blacks. The Miami Herald has the story.

U.S. Attorney flap

U.S. Attorney Alberto Gonzalez should expect to hear questions about Tom Heffelfinger's departure and the hiring of Rachel Paulose.

By the way, those attorneys who stepped down from their management posts wants Paulose to set the record straight on comments made about them.

2006
A Stronger America is cleared of any wrong doing by the Campaign Finance Board.

2008

Mark Meyers makes his run for Congress official. He's a Republican running in Minnesota's 1st Congressional District. DFL Rep. Tim Walz holds the seat.

The Hotline critiques Gov. Pawlenty's Powerline entry that supports McCain.

Blog Watch

A Blue Stem Prairie posts video of DFL Rep. Tim Walz questioning VA Secretary Jim Nicholson.

Rothenberg Political Report says the media shouldn't ignore labor's influence in the Democratic presidential race.

MNBlue wonders if Sen. Coleman will return money from guilty Alaska contributors.

MDE posts some background on Vote Vets (the group targeting Coleman in tv ads).

Comments (2)

..."expected to take up a bill today that raises income taxes on Minnesota's top earners in exchange for property tax relief."

Make or break for the DFL, I say. If they don't deliver the property tax relief, they're gonna convince people there's very little difference between the parties on the tax issue.

And it's not enough just to hand property tax relief to the Governor--the DFL has to explain, publicly, to put pressure on the Governor. Tough, because they don't have the public political platforms available to conservatives--talk radio, regular access to the front pages (like TP).

Posted by Bill Prendergast | May 10, 2007 12:56 PM

..."expected to take up a bill today that raises income taxes on Minnesota's top earners in exchange for property tax relief."

Make or break for the DFL, I say. If they don't deliver the property tax relief, they're gonna convince people there's very little difference between the parties on the tax issue.

And it's not enough just to hand property tax relief to the Governor--the DFL has to explain, publicly, to put pressure on the Governor. Tough, because they don't have the public political platforms available to conservatives--talk radio, regular access to the front pages (like TP).

Posted by Bill Prendergast | May 10, 2007 1:04 PM

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