Polinaut: February 12, 2008 Archive

The Daily Digest: 2-12-08

Posted at 8:31 AM on February 12, 2008 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

The 2008 Legislative Session begins today and here's the big question: Will there be any major things done this session or will there be plenty of partisan gridlock and acrimony? DFL lawmakers say they want to pass a transportation bill and a bonding bill quickly. They may also face a larger budget deficit when a new revenue forecast is released in a few weeks. .

MPR, AP, the Star Tribune, Fox9, the Pi Press and KARE have stories.

Forum Communications says not much has changed in nine months.

DFLers release their transportation funding bill today. The Star Tribune says an early battle looms over the transportation bill.

Missouri's new bridge plan is getting noticed in Minnesota.

MPR says a quiet legislative session is expected on education.

More signs that the February forecast won't be good. State revenue collections fell short in January.

Some DFLers also put forward a health insurance plan. The Star Tribune, Forum Communications and KARE have stories.

The Arts/Outdoors Amendment is on the fast track.

A bill would toughen penalties against stalkers. The Star Tribune and the Pi Press have stories.

PFCs in drinking water will be subject at several meetings.

A lawsuit challenges the per diem increases passed by lawmakers. The Pi Press and AP have stories.

A woman's coalition releases its femicide report.

Congress

Federal budget cuts could take a bite out of research labs. GOP Sen. Norm Coleman is mentioned.

GOP Rep. Jim Ramstad is one of a handful of Republicans who are retiring this year.

DFL Rep. Betty McCollum says she'd be willing to turn the Roger Clemens steroid mess over to the Department of Justice.

The Des Moines Register says DFL Rep. Collin Peterson is working on a Farm Bill that President Bush could agree to.

Peterson says he's going to work to gain bipartisan agreement on the Farm Bill even though a veto could play well politically for Democrats.

DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar says Congress will hold airlines "feet to the fire" to make sure they don't compromise safety.

2008 Presidential race

AP says Minnesota's super delegates are being courted.

Ron Paul won't back John McCain.

2008 U.S. Senate Race

Mike Ciresi says he's more electable than Al Franken.

2008 Pawlenty for VP Watch

The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) says Pawlenty is trading high on the WSJ's Political Market page.

AP mentions Pawlenty as being on a short list.

This Human Events commentator says he might be the best choice.

The Daily Digest: 2-12-08

Posted at 8:31 AM on February 12, 2008 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

The 2008 Legislative Session begins today and here's the big question: Will there be any major things done this session. DFL lawmakers say they want to pass a transportation bill and a bonding bill quickly. They may also face a larger budget deficit when a new revenue forecast is released in a few weeks.

MPR, AP, the Star Tribune, Fox9, the Pi Press and KARE have stories.

Forum Communications says not much has changed in nine months.

DFLers release their transportation funding bill today. The Star Tribune says an early battle looms over it.

Missouri's new bridge plan is getting noticed in Minnesota.

MPR says a quiet legislative session is expected on education.

Here's another warning sign that the February forecast won't be good. State revenue collections fell short in January.

Some DFLers also put forward a health insurance plan. The Star Tribune, Forum Communications and KARE have stories.

The Arts/Outdoors Amendment is on the fast track.

A bill would toughen penalties against stalkers. The Star Tribune and the Pi Press have stories.

PFCs in drinking water will be subject at several meetings.

A lawsuit challenges the per diem increases passed by lawmakers. The Pi Press and AP have stories.

A woman's coalition releases its femicide report.

Congress

Federal budget cuts could take a bite out of research labs. GOP Sen. Norm Coleman is mentioned.

GOP Rep. Jim Ramstad is one of a handful of Republicans who are retiring this year.

DFL Rep. Betty McCollum says she'd be willing to turn the Roger Clemens steroid mess over to the Department of Justice.

The Des Moines Register says DFL Rep. Collin Peterson is working on a Farm Bill that President Bush could agree to.

Peterson says he's going to work to gain bipartisan agreement on the Farm Bill even though a veto could play well politically for Democrats.

DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar says Congress will hold airlines "feet to the fire" to make sure they don't compromise safety.

2008 Presidential race

AP says Minnesota's super delegates are being courted.

Ron Paul won't back John McCain.

2008 U.S. Senate Race

Mike Ciresi says he's more electable than Al Franken.

2008 Pawlenty for VP Watch

The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) says Pawlenty is trading high on the WSJ's Political Market page.

AP mentions Pawlenty as being on a short list.

This Human Events commentator says he might be the best choice.

The Superdelegates

Posted at 12:50 PM on February 12, 2008 by Tom Scheck (3 Comments)

Midmorning had a great show this morning on the superdelegates within the Democratic Party. Kerri Miller and her guests talked about why the superdelegates were created and how there could be problems if a superdelegate goes against the popular vote. One of Minnesota's superdelegates, Nancy Larson, also talked about the lobbying going on by the presidential candidates.

The DFL Party has a list of the state's superdelegates. Here's where the superdelegates stand:

·U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar – uncommitted.

·U.S. Representative Tim Walz – Obama.

·U.S. Representative Betty McCollum – Obama.

·U.S. Representative Keith Ellison – Obama.

·U.S. Representative Collin Peterson – uncommitted.

·U.S. Representative James Oberstar – Obama.

·DFL Party Chair Brian Melendez – uncommitted.

·DFL Party Associate Chair Donna Cassutt – uncommitted.

·Former Vice President Walter Mondale – Clinton.

·Rick Stafford, DNC member – Clinton.

·Nancy Larson, DNC member – uncommitted.

·Ken Foxworth, DNC member – Obama.

·Jackie Stevenson, DNC member - Clinton

·State Senator Mee Moua, DNC member – Obama.

AP also has a story on the superdelegates. DFL Rep. Collin Peterson says he's not going to endorse until the Farm Bill debate is over.

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Let's have some drinks!

Posted at 1:49 PM on February 12, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Some wise political observers say the litmus test for many voters is which candidate would they like to have a beer with. The idea, they say, is the voters are more inclined to vote for someone they relate to.

Well, it was only a matter of time until the National Beer Wholesalers Association took this to the next level. They created a website asking: "Which of the presidential candidates would you rather have a beer with?"
Barack Obama is leading the vote. John McCain and Ron Paul are next on the list.