Polinaut: January 16, 2008 Archive

The Daily Digest: 1-16-08

Posted at 9:10 AM on January 16, 2008 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

Bad design is blamed for the bridge collapse. MPR, the Star Tribune, the Pi Press and AP have stories.

Gov. Pawlenty orders MnDOT to look at the other steel truss bridges in the state.

The Star Tribune says the political reaction is intense.

AP has a list of quotes on the findings.

A battle over transportation funding still looms.

The Hastings Bridge is also getting some attention. MPR and the Pi Press have stories.

Fixing bridges is not the only problem for MnDOT. MPR says there are also plenty of potholes.

The chair of the Senate transportation committee says Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau should resign or will be removed.

Bridge victims can't sue the original designer (which has been acquired by a CA company) because of the state statute of limitations. AP has a story on the legal options.

DFLers in the Minnesota Senate are set to criticize Gov. Pawlenty this afternoon on the latest job numbers. Minnesota's State Economist says the state is in a recession. MPR, the Pi Press, the St. Cloud Times, AP and the Star Tribune have stories.

MPR says 56 businesses are warned about violating the smoking ban. At least one gets hit with a fine.

AP says Minnesota's school districts hit the deadline for teacher deals.

Forum Communications takes a look at per diem payments to state lawmakers.

Pawlenty will join a St. Cloud human rights rally on MLK Day.

Congress

Delta-NWA merger talks have been confirmed by DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar.

Oberstar is also skeptical of such a merger.

DFL Rep. Betty McCollum weighs in on the steroid issue. The Boston Globe and the Chicago Daily Herald are just two of the outlets that have stories.

GOP Sen. Norm Coleman holds a townhall meeting today in St. Cloud.

He also spoke in Rogers.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar tells Politico that she's optimistic about the prospects of getting a global warming bill through the U.S. Senate.

DFL Rep. Collin Peterson tells Reuters that cellulosic ethanol is ten years away.

DFL Rep. Tim Walz says he'll return his pay increase to the U.S. Treasury.

A watershed group is pushing Congress for the removal of debris caused by the summer floods.

Heads Up

The folks at MPR's Midmorning say DFL Rep. Tim Walz and GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann will be on the Thursday morning show at 9.

2008

DFLer Mike Ciresi tells folks in Albert Lea and Alexandria that the middle class is in trouble. Al Franken speaks in Rochester.

The two are seeking the DFL endorsement for U.S. Senate. The Washington Post writes about the Franken and Ciresi ads.

MPR says many Mormons back Mitt Romney (who won Michigan's primary yesterday) but say it's not just because of his faith.

Finally

The Washington Post picks up on Blo and Go. The breaking news is that Laurie Coleman says GOP Sen. Norm Coleman has also used the product.

Finally Finally

Rudy Giuliani refuses to sign a Packer hat because he's a Giants fan. Hizzoner can pretty much kiss Wisconsin good-bye.

McCain addresses VP talk in Michigan

Posted at 5:34 PM on January 16, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Presidential hopeful John McCain must be getting used to questions about his possible picks for vice president. The Minnesota press corps always seems to badger him about Governor Pawlenty. But at a Saturday townhall rally in Warren, Michigan, McCain was forced to answer a question about another prospect:

An unidentified questioner asked McCain: "How about Lou Dobbs as your vice president?

McCain's response: "A little straight talk, I don't think so. Could I say -- could I remind you that the vice president only has two duties -- one in the case of a tie vote in the united states senate, the vice president casts the tie-breaking vote. The other is to inspire daily as to the health of the president."

Another member of the crowd said McCain should pick former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina (who was at the townhall meeting with McCain and Pawlenty) as VP after she addressed the subprime mortgage problems.

I was reminded about the townhall today after I received an e-mail from the Americans for Legal Immigration Political Action Committee (ALIPAC). They are apparently working to draft Lou Dobbs for president.

Education Minnesota backs Franken

Posted at 6:01 PM on January 16, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Senate hopeful Al Franken picked up the support of the 70,000 member organization today. The Pi Press has a story. Franken's campaign made the announcement in a news release.