The Daily Digest: 5-16-07

Posted at 10:11 AM on May 16, 2007 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

DFLers drop permanent property tax relief and appear to drop income tax increase. MPR, the Star Tribune, Forum Communications, AP and the Pi Press have stories.

Pawlenty vetoed the gas tax.

I'm linking to this Star Tribune story because GOP Rep. Dean Urdahl says he won't vote to override the governor's veto on the gas tax but he says he's not happy about it. So he voted for it before he voted against it.

Car Buyer's Bill of Rights passes the House.

Forum Communications wonders if there will be a lights on transportation bill if the gas tax bill isn't overridden.

The constitutional amendment that dedicates some sales tax money to the environment and cultural programs stalls in the House.

The gift card bill gets preliminary approval in the Senate.

The Pi Press takes a look at a new law that targets predatory lenders.

The Crow Wing County Republican Party Chair criticizesGOP Sen. Paul Koering on some of his votes.

Attorney General Lori Swanson settles a lawsuit with Capella over student loans. No news conference to announce the settlement. Someone tell Swanson she'll need to talk about Mike Hatch at some point. The press corps has a long memory.

Congress

The Senate GOP crafts a proposal for the Iraq war bill. GOP Sen. Norm Coleman is expected to support it.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar backs a plan that gives farmers an incentive to produce prairie grass and other plants to boost ethanol production.

Klobuchar and Coleman say they want a plan for the Duluth fighter wing.

Education Week says House freshman like DFL Rep. Tim Walz and DFL Rep. Keith Ellison could be pivotal in the decision to renew No Child Left Behind (subscription required).

The St. Cloud Times says GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann is learning on the job.

Farm groups are calling for U.S. funds for food safety. DFL Rep. Collin Peterson is mentioned.

2008

A USA Today column examines the money game in Minnesota's U.S. Senate race and says it's not easy for just anyone to run for office.

Two GOP candidates who are either running on thinking about running for Congress in Minnesota's 1st Congressional District attend candidate school. State Rep. Randy Demmer is one. The other (drumroll please) is Brian Davis of Rochester, who says he is close to a decision. The GOP winner would run against DFL Rep. Tim Walz.

• E-mail this page
• Print this page
• Save to Delicious
• Submit to Digg
• Share this

Services

• Hourly Newscast
• HD Radio
• iPhone App / Mobile
• E-mail newsletters
• RSS feeds
• Podcasts
• Submit your photos
• Videos
• Weather
• Most e-mailed stories

Become a Sponsor