Polinaut: December 12, 2007 Archive

The Daily Digest: 12-12-07

Posted at 11:19 AM on December 12, 2007 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

The Digest is a bit late this morning because we were waiting for an 11 AM conference call from the Barack Obama campaign. See below for the latest.

The Digest is wondering 'What's the Big Idea?' Well, the Star Tribune says Gov. Pawlenty has plenty of Big Ideas but doesn't produce the follow up.

Here's a sampler of Pawlenty's big ideas.

The National Governors Association says Gov. Pawlenty will be in Florida tomorrow to discuss wind energy with three other governors. Here's a blog entry from Tampa on some of the discussion

Xcel is climbing the national ladder in wind production.

Northstar funding gets finalized.

Dems put pressure on Gov. Pawlenty to take up transportation funding.

Pawlenty also handles a gold shovel in Rochester.

The Health Department is going back to the drawing board on the pork plant illnesses.

GOP Rep. Mark Olson was booted from his caucus. This was expected. Watch for a possible Mary Kiffmeyer candidacy. The Star Tribune, MPR and the Pi Press have stories.

Homeowners vent at a truth in taxation hearing in St. Paul.

Property taxes are going up 8% in Minneapolis.

Nursing homes are calling on the state for financial help.

ECM Publishers writes about the dangerous dog legislation.

Remember that hybrid electric car that Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak was touting a few months ago? Well, it stalled. Update -- see comment by Rybak's spokesman in comment list.

The New York Sun says cities can't handle the cost of the NFL. Minnesota's stadium situation is mentioned.

The House GOP wants more competition in health care.

Nonprofits hope to reverse a recent Minnesota Supreme Court ruling.

Congress

GOP Sen. Norm Coleman talks with MPR about his plan to reduce foreclosures.

The Senate also rejects a direct vote on the energy bill. Coleman voted for cloture.

Pending Guatemalan adoptions will go through. Coleman is mentioned.

Several lawmakers try to head off proposed Medicaid cuts. Coleman and DFL Rep. Keith Ellison back the plan.

MPR says two northwest VA clinics are closing due to funding.

DFL Rep. Tim Walz announces unclaimed refund checks.

The House is set to take Minnesota's yellow ribbon program national. GOP Rep. John Kline, Pawlenty and Coleman are mentioned. AP and the Star Tribune have stories.

The Hill says House Republicans press on to cut earmarks. DFL Rep. Tim Walz and DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar voted for an amendment that would remove earmarks from the intelligence measure "to the maximum extent possible."

The Senate defeats amendments that would have cut farm subsidies. DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar is mentioned.

GOP Rep. Collin Peterson says Congress should make a serious effort to ban crop subsidies to nonfarmers. Please tell us what the definition of nonfarmer is.

Peterson also doesn't see a veto to a new Farm Bill.

The House votes to extend the mandatory retirement age for pilots to 65. Oberstar backs the legislation. Pilots at Northwest Airlines oppose it. The AP and Star Tribune have stories.

2008

DFL Congresswoman Betty McCollum has endorsed Illinois Senator Barack Obama for president. She said Obama is the best candidate for the job:

"This country is divided. The Congress is divided... This nation needs someone that it can look to as a person that can reach out and unite. I see that in the way Mr. Obama presents himself."

The holdouts in the endorsement party gets a little smaller. Who will DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar endorse?

Republican Mark Meyer drops out of the race for Minnesota's 1st Congressional District. He's backing GOP Rep. Randy Demmer. The Mankato Free Press, the Rochester Post-Bulletin and AP have stories.

Demmer also visits Worthington.

Midday interviews DFL U.S. Senate candidate Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer

Norm Ornstein tells Midday that the GOP nomination for president may be settled in St. Paul. Wouldn't that be something?

2008 RNC

Will St. Paul follow Denver's plans to add surveillance cameras around the convention?

Finally

MDE points out that Secretary of State Mark Ritchie does an interview with MTV but doesn't talk to the local press. That lead us to this bigger question - Does anyone even watch MTV anymore?

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McCollum backs Obama

Posted at 12:39 PM on December 12, 2007 by Tom Scheck

Fourth District DFL Congresswoman Betty McCollum is endorsing Illinois Senator Barack Obama for president. McCollum, who represents St. Paul and surrounding communities, called Obama the best candidate for the job. She said Obama has long opposed the war in Iraq and can unite a divided nation.

"As you all know, every candidate in this race is experienced and experience in of itself is not enough. With that experience has to come good judgment, sound choices. I believe that Barack Obama will use his experience to use good choices and sound judgement."

Congressman Keith Ellison and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak are also backing Obama. Former Vice President Walter Mondale, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and Minnesota House Speaker Margaret Kelliher are backing New York Senator Hillary Clinton. DFL Congressman Jim Oberstar and Minnesota House Majority Leader Tony Sertich are backing former North Carolina Senator John Edwards.

This ain't Route 66

Posted at 4:23 PM on December 12, 2007 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

The blog has seen this billboard several times over the last few weeks while driving on Hwy. 280. It always makes me think of a few questions. First off - Who in the heck if Progress in Motion?

MinnPost says the group is an offshoot of the Minnesota Transportation Alliance.

Well, that was easy enough. Here are the questions that I can't answer:

How big of a street fight is transportation funding going to be when lawmakers return for the legislative session (I guess I can answer that one too - it will be big). There's no doubt that the House will try to override Gov. Pawlenty's veto of the transportation package that included a gas tax increase, a sales tax increase for transit and wheelage tax. Will the GOP House stand tall and block an override again? Can you imagine the campaign lit pieces that will be created on both sides?

Is this the year the gas tax goes up?

Finally, What does the average Joe/Jane think of this sign? Is it effective? Will it change any minds. Will people dig in for the fight?

Discuss...

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