The Daily Digest: 10-29-07

The Digest plays around the world with Gov. Pawlenty today.

Fresh off a visit to India, the Star Tribune is reporting that Pawlenty may visit the Arctic with Will Steger. He's making the trip to get a look at global warming firsthand.

The news comes after Pawlenty got back from a trade mission from India. He expressed concern that an Indian company buying an Iron Range steel mill may have ties to Iran. MPR, the Star Tribune, the Duluth News Tribune and AP have stories.

Pawlenty is making the call before an investigation by the federal government is complete. Nashwauk's Mayor says Pawlenty is playing politics before he has all of the facts. The Pawlenty Administration says there are more important things than building a big project. The Duluth News Tribune has this follow.

MPR wraps up the details from Pawlenty's India trip.

The IRRB will probe the cancer deaths in miners.

Browns Valley residents are still picking up the pieces after the flood.

I-35W Bridge

The Pi Press takes a look at the number of bridge inspectors across the country.

Congress

The Star Tribune says GOP Sen. Norm Coleman was at Woodstock but doesn't want any public money going to a planned museum.

Coleman also has a plan to reduce home foreclosures.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar urged President Bush to expand the powers of the Federal Housing Administration to refinance subprime mortgages.

Democrats, like Klonuchar, criticize the Bush Administration over global warming.

The Senate Ag Committee approves the Farm Bill.

DFL Rep. Tim Walz wants to stay on top of flood relief.

A House panel oks two new reservist benefits. Walz and GOP Rep. John Kline are mentioned.

DFL Rep. Betty McCollum is one of a handful of Democratic lawmakers who blast Secretary of State Condeleeza Rice.

McCollum is also a part of a bipartisan group of lawmakers who promise to help clean up uranium on a Navajo Reservation in Arizona. Stories here and here.

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann writes an op-ed proposing to make the tax system fairer.

2008

CQ says Minnesota's Senate race is the most expensive in the nation to date.

The Fix wonders whether Democrats will pick up more open seats (like Minnesota's 3rd).

Smart Politics points to a poll showing that Democrat Hillary Clinton is outpolling her GOP rivals in Minnesota.

2010

The Mesabi Daily News says two Iron Range lawmakers, DFL Sen. Tom Bakk of Cook and DFL Rep. Tom Rukavina of Virginia , are thinking about running for governor in 2010.

Finally

McClatchy says President Bush is the biggest spender since LBJ.