Polinaut: June 27, 2007 Archive

More on Sviggum

Posted at 7:27 AM on June 27, 2007 by Mike Mulcahy

Gov. Pawlenty called his former colleague and choice for commissioner of Labor and Industry someone who is "known for his ability to work with and listen to people on all sides of an issue."

DFL state party chair Brian Melendez says the former speaker has "established a long record of working against the best interests of Minnesota's working families," and labor is likely to oppose his appointment.

What do you think? You can hear from Sviggum himself on Midday Wednesday at 11 and maybe even get in a question of your own.

The Daily Digest: 6-27-07

Posted at 11:09 AM on June 27, 2007 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

It smelled like BBQ inside Room 15 of the State Capitol. Why? Lawmakers spent four and a half hour grilling Health Commissioner Dianne Mandernach. MPR, the Star Tribune, the Pi Press, AP, the Duluth News Tribune, Fox9, KARE-11 and WCCO have stories.

Gov. Pawlenty also appointed GOP Rep. (and former Speaker of the House) Steve Sviggum as the commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry. The Star Tribune, AP, Forum Communications, MPR and the Pi Press have stories.

The Pi Press says many suburbs will get nothing in local government aid. The paper also has a primer on local government aid.

MPR says state agencies are wrestling with phosphorous control.

WCCO says a state lawmaker is learning about nursing home care firsthand.

Gov. Pawlenty's deer hunting opener is in Hibbing.

He also poses for a photo with Goldie Hawn.

Congress

GOP Sen. Norm Coleman votes to move ahead with debate on the immigration bill after he was promised a vote on one of his amendments.

AP says GOP support for the Iraq war slips. Coleman says he wants to wait until September to see how things are going. He also downplayed a speech by Dick Lugar (R-IN) on Iraq.

A teen lobbies Congress for cancer help. Coleman is mentioned. It's part of a broader protest over cuts to cancer research funding.

ACLU joins a Day of Action on Capitol Hill. Coleman is mentioned.

The Hill also notes that Coleman changed his hairstyle.

The Employee Free Choice Act is defeated in the Senate.

California's governor wants DFL Rep. Collin Peterson to remember fruits and vegetables when he writes the Farm Bill. Other governors also signed the letter.

The Hill says Democrats and Republicans are getting ready for a fight over radio regulations.

U.S. Attorney Rachel Paulose holds a hearing on the Red Lake Indian Reservation.

2008
Coleman meets with Young Republicans on Saturday.

Another JOBZ lawsuit

Posted at 1:54 PM on June 27, 2007 by Mike Mulcahy

Gov. Tim Pawlenty's JOBZ economic development program is once again the target of a lawsuit that challenges its constitutionality.

The suit is being filed by 10 companies and individuals who are represented by former DFL officials including Rob Leighton and John James and Steve Rathke.

The lawyers note that a previous suit was dismissed last year by a district court judge, but say the new suit is different because it's being brought by people who are in the same business as some of the companies that have benefited from JOBZ tax breaks. They say the plaintiffs can show they've been harmed by what they call the special treatment given to their competitors.