Polinaut: June 22, 2007 Archive

The Daily Digest: 6-22-07

Posted at 9:59 AM on June 22, 2007 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

Gov. Pawlenty announced a tuition reciprocity deal with Wisconsin on his radio show this morning.

Some DFL state lawmakers are calling for Dianne Mandernach to resign. The Pi Press, AP, MPR and the Star Tribune have stories.

MPR says miners are angered by the decision.

A state lawmaker also wants an investigation into whether a scientist was fired because he was going to testify about the dangers of farm chemicals.

The Wall Street Journal mentions Pawlenty in detailing the slate of governors who created a public website to show where the state's money was going.

Pawlenty also said Upper Midwest states need to partner more.

The Vikings stadium cost could increase if lawmakers delay.

The reason why they're pushing for that 3/8ths sales tax amendment.

Former Attorney General Mike Hatch takes a job in the private sector.

The Children's Defense Fund tells Forum Communications that more work needs to be done on children's health insurance.

Congress

The Senate approves a bill that increases mileage standards on automobiles. DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar and GOP Sen. Norm Coleman are mentioned.

Coleman also praised a decision to delay land crossing rules and says Minnesota needs its own passport office.

Democrats say embryonic stem cell research will be an election issue. GOP Sen. Norm Coleman urges his colleagues to get behind his plan.

Coleman also met with the U.N. Secretary General.

DFL Rep. Collin Peterson may get in a tussle with some southern lawmakers over the Farm Bill.

DFL Rep. Keith Ellison will hold a forum on immigration on Saturday.

Ellison also tells CQ that he would be pleasantly surprised if they take up the issue before June.

Ellison is also mentioned in this story on home foreclosures and bankruptcy.

CQ says Ellison also urged the liberal wing of the Democratic Party to not turn cannibalistic over dissatisfaction for the war.

DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar tells Star Tribune columnist Dennis Anderson that his bill would protect wetlands.

Former U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger speculates on why he made the firing list.

2008

MSNBC has a list of journalists who wrote checks to politicians.

Arizona Senator John McCain was in Minnesota to raise money. The Pi Press, the Star Tribune and AP have stories.

Stu Rothenberg says the DSCC has put Minnesota's U.S. Senate seat held by Norm Coleman in play.

Jim Oberstar speaks at the U of M on Monday.

Posted at 10:15 AM on June 22, 2007 by Tom Scheck

DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar is the latest member of Minnesota's congressional delegation to speak at the U of M's Humphrey School's "connecting with elected officials." The topic is: "Transportation Policy and America's Future."

DFL Rep. Keith Ellison's speech to the school will be on MPR's Midday today.

Pork or bacon?

Posted at 10:35 AM on June 22, 2007 by Mike Mulcahy

Remember all that talk about congressional earmarks during the last campaign? The House passed a rule this year that requires members to put their names on the specific spending items they're requesting from the Appropriations Committee.

But CNN had a good piece yesterday about how hard it still is to find out exactly what earmarks are out there.

Today 1st District DFL Rep. Tim Walz released his wish list, and here it is:

-Center for Applied Biofuel Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato Funds would support research into renewable energy.

·Center for Producer-Owned Energy; Crookston

-The Center supports the creation of value-added renewable energy businesses that help farmers increase their profitability and promote rural development.

·Center for Renewable Energy at Minnesota State University, Mankato This funding would support on-going research into cellulosic ethanol, biodiesel and other renewable forms of energy.

·Dresbach Bridge Preliminary planning support for the I-90 bridge at Dresbach, in Winona County.

· Garage and Operation Facility construction Construction of a garage and transportation hub for Albert Lea's bus transit system.

·Gunderson Lutheran's HeartHealth program in Winona Funds will create a program to reduce life-threatening heart disease in women.

· Highway 8 in St. James Funding for safety improvements.

·Highway 14 Upgrades in Waseca, Blue Earth, and Nicollet Counties.

·Highway 52 Improvements in Olmsted County.

·Highway 59 in Worthington Road safety enhancements.

· Highway 60 Expansion to four lanes in Nobles County.

·Hormel Institute Cancer Research Expansion Project in Austin This funding would expand the Hormel Institute's cancer research facility and support the renovation of an existing building and the construction of a new facility.

·Interstate 35 Guardrail installations in Owatonna.

·Lewis and Clark Rural Water System Centered in twenty communities in western Minnesota, northern Iowa, and eastern South Dakota, this pipeline provides treated water from the Missouri River to more than 300,000 people in three states. This area is so desperately short of water that there are restrictions on constructing new small business and residences; the pipeline will be essential to the economic viability of these small towns. Many of the communities involved have pre-paid the local share of the project, in order to keep inflationary costs at a minimum, and are only awaiting the federal share.

·Minnesota National Guard Field Maintenance Facility in Mankato Funds would support the design of a maintenance facility to support the training of Minnesota's National Guard.

·Mobile Pediatric Health Simulation Center The funds would support the operation of a mobile pediatric lab to train doctors and nurses in greater Minnesota in pediatric emergency response. This program is headquartered in St. Paul but serves Minnesota's 1st Congressional District.

· National Child Protection Training Center at Winona State University The Center trains social workers, teachers, and health care professionals to recognize and report signs of child abuse.

· Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge in Minnesota and Iowa This project will support land acquisition to add acreage to the refuge.

·Oak Avenue Reconstruction Project will to accommodate heavier traffic in Racine, located in Mower County.

·Olmsted County Safeguarding Children's Initiative in Rochester Funds will support a program to prevent child abuse and neglect.

·Park and Ride Facility construction in Rochester

·Radium removal project in the Goodview Water System Funding would construct two water filtration plants to comply with an EPA mandate.

·Rapidan Dam near Mankato Funding for a study by the Army Corps of Engineers to evaluate options for the Rapidan Dam.

·Region 9 Funding will assist with assessment of public transit options in Blue Earth and Nicollet Counties.

·Road Sign Replacement Program in Houston and Watonwan Counties

·St. Elizabeth's Hospital Fresh Start Disease Prevention Program Funds would support a program in Wabasha to help participants reduce their risk of heart disease.

·Sensor Technology Project for Senior Independent Living and Home Health Located in Windom, the program would allow remote monitoring of elderly clients' health.

·Sheriffs Youth Program in Rochester. Funding would support SYP's services for at-risk youth.

·Soybean genomics research at the University of Minnesota in St. Paul Funding for research to help increase protein levels in soybeans, which would make southern Minnesota's plentiful soybean crop more competitive internationally.

·Statewide National Guard Reintegration program This program would support a program to help federal, state, and local agencies provide well-coordinated assistance to Minnesota service members reintegrating to civilian life.

·Trunk Highway 4 Pavement reconstruction in St. James.

·Trunk Highway 15/Johnson Street intersection in Fairmont Funding would support a study on ways to control a hazardous intersection in Fairmont.

·Trunk Highway 169 Reconstruction in Fairbault and Nicollet Counties.

·Uniform Farm Management Program at the University of Minnesota, St. Paul Funding for a project that helps farmers compare their costs of production and maximize their efficiencies of operation.

·Upper Mississippi River Wildlife and Fish Refuge Funds would purchase a 108-acre tract of land along the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife and Fish Refuge.

·Veterans Re-Entry Education Program in St. Paul Funds would help Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and three state agencies create programs to help returning veterans find employment and educational opportunities.

· Veterans' Van Transportation Program in Rochester Funds would support the operation of the county's van service to transport veterans from Olmsted County to the Minneapolis VA Clinic for medical care.

· Watonwan County Emergency Services Funds would support an upgrade of the county's emergency operations center and a facility for emergency management equipment.

·Winona State University Utility Tunnel Upgrade and Expansion Project

Demmer takes next step in campaign for Congress

Posted at 11:09 AM on June 22, 2007 by Tom Scheck

Randy Demmer, a Republican state lawmaker, has taken the next step in his bid for Congress. Demmer lives in Minnesota's First Congressional District and is one of a handful of Republicans who is vying to challenge DFL Rep. Tim Walz in 2008. Here's his release:

Demmer to host open house for new campaign headquarters.

Rochester, MN, June 21, 2007 — Randy Demmer, candidate for United States House of Representatives (MN-01) today announced an open house for his newly opened Congressional campaign headquarters to be held from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Tuesday, June 26, 2007 at 1530 Greenview Dr. SW, Suite 202, Rochester, MN.

"I look forward to the opportunity to meet with supporters and members of the public to share with them my vision of the future," said Demmer. "We are building a network of grassroots support across the First District, and I look forward to restoring common sense, southern Minnesota values to Washington."

The public is welcome to stop by any time between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM. Refreshments will be served. For more information on the open house, please call Wanda Mitchell, Campaign Coordinator, at 507-529-1223.

McCain's newser

Posted at 11:19 AM on June 22, 2007 by Tom Scheck

As you already know, Arizona Senator John McCain was in St. Paul yesterday to raise money for his campaign for President. AP has a story on the event here. McCain met with reporters before the private event. You can listen to the q and a here.

Journalists who give to candidates and its impact on political coverage

Posted at 1:11 PM on June 22, 2007 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

MSNBC has a fascinating story on journalists who gave political contributions to candidates. This is a troubling issue for political reporters who cover candidates.

There are two Twin Cities journalists on the list (Alix Kendall of Fox9 News and Barbara Haugen of the Star Tribune) and several NPR reporters (Corey Flintoff, Michelle Trudeau and Guy Raz).

I would like to say that this comes as a surprise but it doesn't. Over the past few years, the black and white policy on this issue has been blurred. See former Star Tribune reporter Eric Black's comments on political leanings in Kate Parry's column here. Two Pi Press reporters were also suspended for attending a political concert by Bruce Springsteen, R.E.M. and others that funded a Democrat leaning group.

This is a troubling issue for political reporters who cover candidates. There are plenty of people in the press corps who work hard to provide balance and fairness to our stories (including many who work for the organizations listed above). This report does not help our image especially since we're labeled as liberal or conservative by whichever interest group is pointing the finger. The MSNBC report just gives them more ammo.

For the record, MPR has a strict policy forbidding the news staff from giving to political candidates.

Comment on this post

Health commissioner to appear at hearing

Posted at 2:11 PM on June 22, 2007 by Tim Pugmire (3 Comments)

Minnesota Health Commissioner Dianne Mandernach will explain to legislators next week why her department withheld data on a rare form of cancer for more than a year.

Mandernach is scheduled to testify Tuesday during a joint hearing of the House and Senate health committees. She apologized last week for delaying the release of information on about 35 iron ore miners who died from the asbestos-related cancer known as mesothelioma. Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville and chairman of the Senate Health, Housing and Family Security committee, has asked Mandernach to resign.

Marty described the health department's actions as alarming.

Looking through the documents that the department has sent over, it looks like they spent a lot more time worrying about how it's going to look for them when we release this information, not what the impact is going to be on the miners.

Marty also wants to know why state health officials sat on information about a chemical formerly made by 3M that's been found in drinking water in several east metro communities.

Comment on this post

The most underplayed story of the week

Posted at 3:26 PM on June 22, 2007 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

AP's Brian Bakst has an interesting look at the top lobbyist contributions during the legislative session. It's an important read that didn't get much play this week. Interested in who gave? You can find out here.

Comment on this post

Mandernach and Marty on Almanac tonight

Posted at 5:56 PM on June 22, 2007 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)

Minnesota Health Commissioner Dianne Mandernach and DFL Senator John Marty will be on TPT's Almanac tonight to discuss the department's decision to delay reports of cancer deaths in Northern Minnesota. You can read some background on the story here and here. MPR also has a story saying the incident tarnishes the health department's image.

Comment on this post