Capitol View: June 14, 2007 Archive

The Daily Digest: 6-14-07

Posted at 10:20 AM on June 14, 2007 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

The Digest has been in a bit of a lull of late. There doesn't seem to be any real BIG political news to speak of. It also feels like the last couple of stories have been a broken record. Oh wait, this just in! AP says special session talks continue. The press corps wrote about that last week. Sigh.

Forum Communications says the pressure for a special session mounts. This story has been beaten like an old rug.

MPR says the folks supporting the Central Corridor want one. No surprise there.

Ok, you get the idea. So let's get to the rest of the digest.

A legislative panel has its first meeting to figure out how to get to universal coverage by 2011.

WCCO's Pat Kessler reality checks per diem.

St. Paul releases their bonding priorities.

NPR says the Federal Reserve may make moves to fix the ailing mortgage market. Minnesota's latest predatory lending laws are mentioned.

Pawlenty also met with the Canadian Ambassador.

Congress

GOP Sen. Norm Coleman backs the D.C. voting bill.

Coleman is also co-sponsoring the African American Leadership Summit.

Coleman is also mentioned in a green energy story and will meet with the Bermuda Premier.

The New York Times says a Democratic leadership memo says they fear the focus of the war has been blurred. DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar said her constituents want to see Democrats continue to challenge President Bush.

Klobuchar pushes for a renewable energy mandate and admires Chuck Schumer's tie.

NOTE-- There have been several stories that have said GOP Rep. John Kline will travel to France on a trade mission. Kline's spokesman sent me an e-mail saying Kline was invited but will not go because of important Congressional business on appropriations bills during that time.

GOP Rep. Jim Ramstad signs on to a Children's Health bill.

Politico also says the task force on ethics enforcement failed to create an independent ethics review panel. DFL Rep. Betty McCollum is mentioned.

DFL Rep. Keith Ellison will hold a hearing with Congressman Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill, on immigration later this month.

Ellison is also weighing in on the Liberian issue.

DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar and GOP Sen. Norm Coleman announce a grant to the Falls Airport.

2008
NPR political editor Ken Rudin says Coleman is the most endangered Senate Republican in 2008.

The Star Tribune comes late to the Joe Repya story with no new information. Several news outlets have taken the position of not writing on this until Repya makes a firm decision.

Smart Politics says President Bush's approval ratings fall below 30% in Minnesota.

The Pulse of the Twin Cities writes that DFLer Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer is considering a U.S. Senate run. You may want to clean that headline up a bit.

MPR says legislative candidates are getting an early start at 2008.

CONTEST ALERT:
There is one legislative district that could end up with the fourth rematch between candidates. DFL Rep. David Bly will face former GOP Rep. Ray Cox. Polinaut is seeking recommendations for this rematch -- One suggestion was "The Brawl 4 it all." Please submit suggestions. The winner will win one "attaboy!"

Minnesota Monitor says former U.S. Senator Dean Barkley may challenge GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann. Former Gov. Ventura appointed Barkley to the U.S. Senate after Paul Wellstone died in a plane crash. See Repya entry to learn why no one is covering at this point.

The Rochester Post Bulletin says the DFL is negotiating with Rochester for the state convention.

2008 RNC Convention

The Digest forgot to include this Pi Press story yesterday. It says St. Paul City parks are being set aside for the GOP.