Polinaut: June 26, 2007 Archive

The Daily Digest: 6-26-07

Posted at 9:06 AM on June 26, 2007 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

Health Commissioner Dianne Mandernach is scheduled to testify before a joint House/Senate Committee today. The hearing comes after Health Department officials confirm to MPR that they released the findings of miner related cancer deaths to a mining company one week before it was released to the public.

The DFL and GOP are willing to move the caucuses. The Pi Press, the Star Tribune, MPR and AP have stories.

The Star Tribune says web chatter shows there will be convention protests.

Xcel presents a plan to build a wind farm.

Gov. Pawlenty declares it Farm Bureau Week.

Congress

The National Review Online says GOP Sen. Norm Coleman is one of seven who can prevent amnesty. They also say his muncipal sanctuary law is missing the point.

Coleman also writes an op-ed explaining why he opposes the "Employee Free Choice Act."

The State Department and Customs will hold hearings in towns along the border. Coleman was instrumental in getting the hearings scheduled.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar wants a probe of unsafe toys.

DFL Rep. Keith Ellison provokes an angry response from the former EPA Commissioner over air quality at Ground Zero.

DFL Rep. Collin Peterson says payment limits will not be in the Farm Bill.

DFL Congressman Jim Oberstar speaks at the U of M's Humphrey Institute.

Oberstar also defends his Clean Water Restoration Act.

Oberstar also wants to finish the Grand Rounds in Minneapolis.

Budget cuts alter western Minnesota migrant programs.

Finally

Good-bye Charles Lindberg. Thanks for raising the flag.

Sviggum to become Labor and Industry Commissioner

Posted at 11:47 AM on June 26, 2007 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)

Here's the release:

GOVERNOR PAWLENTY APPOINTS SVIGGUM LABOR AND INDUSTRY COMMISSIONER

~ 15 term House member and former Speaker will lead department beginning July 17 ~

Saint Paul – Governor Pawlenty announced today the appointment of Rep. Steve Sviggum as the new commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI), effective July 17, 2007.

“Minnesota’s workers and businesses rely on the Department of Labor and Industry as a trusted resource and regulator,” Governor Pawlenty said. “Steve is known for his ability to work with and listen to people on all sides of an issue. His philosophy has always revolved around balance and I know he’ll bring that to DLI.”

The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry performs a variety of functions: overseeing the workers' compensation system for the state; preventing workplace accidents and illness through OSHA consultation and compliance efforts; certifying and monitoring the state registered apprenticeship program; monitoring compliance with labor laws; and regulating the state’s construction codes and licensing activities. The department employs approximately 500 workers throughout the state.

Sviggum was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1978 and is currently in his 15th term. He served four terms as Speaker of the House and three terms as House Minority Leader. In 1985-86, he chaired the Unemployment Insurance and Workers Compensation Division of the House Labor-Management Relations Committee. Sviggum has been honored by many business organizations, advocacy groups for the mentally disabled and taxpayer watchdog groups.

Sviggum has been a Sunday school teacher and board member of River View Manor, Goodhue County Historical Society, the Kenyon Sunset Home long-term care board and the Northern Chapter of the American Red Cross. Sviggum and his family are beef and grain farmers in the Kenyon area and he is also a senior fellow in the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. He and his wife, Debra, have three children.

“I’m looking forward to this next challenge in my public service career,” Sviggum said. “Enhancing jobs and furthering the health, safety and protection of Minnesota’s workers and employers is an important task and I’ll tackle it with energy and fairness.”

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