Capitol View: January 10, 2008 Archive

The Daily Digest: 1-10-2008

Posted at 10:00 AM on January 10, 2008 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau tells the Star Tribune that she is not quitting as Transportation Commissioner. Members of the DFL Controlled Senate say they have the votes to effectively fire her.

Attorney General Lori Swanson has joined a lawsuit by 16 other states suing the EPA over vehicle emission standards. The news release was just sent out.

Kessler reality checks expenses at the Legislature.

Education Week Magazine gives Minnesota teachers a D+ but says kids are doing well. AP, the Star Tribune and the Pi Press have stories.

The Minnesota Climate Change Advisory group meets today.

The protection of peat bogs may be on the agenda.

Gov. Pawlenty and Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle plan a summit on energy. The Pi Press and Forum Communications have stories.

Pawlenty also backs Doyle's smoking ban plan.

Pawlenty will also appear on CNN's Lou Dobbs tonight to talk about immigration.

ECM Publishers writes about efforts to ban certain dog breeds in Minnesota.

Several veterans talk policy with some lawmakers in Cambridge.

The Vikings stadium tour hits St. Cloud.

Congress

GOP Sen. Norm Coleman holds a field hearing today to discuss health care challenges for small business.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar continues her statewide tour. Yellow Medicine County officials want Klobuchar to help with highway improvements.

Klobuchar also meets with the parents of a child who has been caught in an adoption snag.

DFL Rep. Collin Peterson continues to work on the Farm Bill.

DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar talks about the recent successes in Congress. He also toured the Duluth Aviation Facility.

2008

DFL U.S. Senate candidate Mike Ciresi will start running tv ads today. The Star Tribune and Pi Press have stories. The Hill says Ciresi has yet to release his 4th quarter fundraising numbers.

ABC News has a profile of Al Franken.

DFL Rep. David Dill of Crane Lake is backing Mike Ciresi for Senate because his viewpoints better represent the Iron Range.

DFL U.S. Senate candidate Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer will be on MPR's Midday this morning at 11. GOP Sen. Norm Coleman will be on the show tomorrow.

Coleman's wife releases a new product with an, um, interesting name.

The presidential campaigns are ramping up in Minnesota. Hillary Clinton and Mitt Romney may visit before February 5th. MPR, the Star Tribune, the Pi Press, KARE-11 and AP have stories.

Pawlenty plans to hit the road again for McCain. This time it's Michigan where McCain is already predicting a victory. Side note - Mitt Romney is apparently not counting Iowa in his delegate count.

KSTP-TV speculates on whether Pawlenty could be named for that one spot.

AP gives a primer on preparing for Minnesota's caucuses.

DFLer Ashwin Madia will release his fundraising numbers this morning at a Capitol news conference. Madia is one of three DFLers running in Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District. I'm told the 3rd District DFL candidates will appear on TPT's Almanac on Friday.

2008 RNC

GM is the official vehicle provider of the 2008 RNC.