Polinaut: February 27, 2008 Archive

The Daily Digest: 2-27-08

Posted at 8:42 AM on February 27, 2008 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

The Digest starts off with trains, planes and automobiles or gas tax, central corridor and NWA merger.

Gov. Pawlenty and Republican leaders in the House and Senate circle the wagons. Pawlenty predicts a tax revolt over the override of his veto of a transportation bill. MPR, the Pi Press and AP have stories.

Forum Communications says the session now gets a bit tougher.

The six House Republicans who voted to override the veto were stripped of their leadership positions. The Star Tribune, KARE and Forum Communications have stories.

The St. Cloud Times says Bud Heidgerken (one of the gang of six) is feeling the backlash for his vote.

Neil Peterson explains his vote in this op-ed.

The Pi Press said the transpo deal was delicate.

The Star Tribune has an explainer on the transportation bill and the cost impacts on Minnesotans.

KARE details where the money goes.

AP wonders if the gov can keep the 3.5 cent surcharge off the books.

KSTP says the override vote may cost other tax bills.

The Worthington Daily Globe says local reaction is positive.

MPR says the higher gas tax is not playing well in Anoka.

All of this comes as the gas prices are set to soar, says the New York Times.

MnDOT looks at which projects to start with. The Star Tribune and Forum Communications have stories.

The Pi Press says bridges could be fixed more quickly.

AP says arts and wildlife groups aren't worried about a possible tax backlash.

The Met Council votes on Central Corridor today. The U of M accepts a transit mall.

Delta executives say no agreement on a deal with NWA yet.

Budget

So now that they're off to an amicable start. Let's talk budget. The forecast comes out on Thursday and it ain't gonna be good.

Bonding Bill

The Senate releases their bonding bill. The Star Tribune, Forum Communications and the Pi Press have stories.

Other

Lawmakers consider a cap and trade system.

The fatal crash spurs a debate on immigration.

Gov. Pawlenty's advisory group is absent from the vet home debate.

Lawmakers are questioning the next step in biofuels payments.

North Dakota says the state will tighten import regulations for cattle.

The House will work to negotiate a deal on the Big 10 Channel controversy.

Pawlenty will do this week's radio show from Olivia. What's the over/under on how many times he says "gas tax" during the show?

Pawlenty on the road

Pawlenty testifies before a House Committee on health care.

Pawlenty talks of state action on the fight against global warming during his trip to Washington.

Congress

The Senate holds a hearing today on disclosure of device makers' payments to doctors.

The Senate votes to delay a rule that would cut money for at risk kids. GOP Sen. Norm Coleman, DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar and DFL Rep. Keith Ellison are mentioned. GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann is the only member of Minnesota's Congressional delegation who didn't sign on to the bill.

The Senate also approves the Indian Health Care pact.

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann writes to ICE about the bus crash suspect.

Bachmann also stops in Woodbury.

The Farm Bill is going down to the wire. DFL Rep. Collin Peterson is mentioned.

Politico says the Farm Bill's future is risky for commodity traders.

Supporters of the Delta Queen say they'll lobby DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar on keeping the boat afloat.

2008 Race for President

The Washington Post says Klobuchar has not backed anyone for president. Come to think of it, why hasn't she backed anyone for president?

Pawlenty for VP Watch

Pawlenty sits down with The Fix.

The Washington Post also mentions Pawlenty in this story.

2008 Race for Senate

SEIU backs Al Franken.

2008 Race for Congress

The Star Tribune says the debate over earmarks is getting heated in Minnesota's 2nd District.

Democrat Ashwin Madia (who's running for Congress in Minnesota's 3rd district) is mentioned in this story on Iraq war veterans seeking political office.

Madia and fellow Democrats Terri Bonoff and Jim Hovland will meet in a debate tonight.

The Democrats on the board of a group that is running ads criticizing Tim Walz on surveillance quit the group.

Which ones are the Ewoks?

Posted at 10:24 AM on February 27, 2008 by Tom Scheck (6 Comments)

GOP House Minority Leader Marty Seifert was asked yesterday if the override of Gov. Pawlenty's veto damaged his reputation since he believes one of the main roles for the House GOP is to protect the governor's vetoes. Seifert said this:

"Last year we blew up the Death Star and this year was The Empire Strikes Back. The storm troopers on the 4th floor (where the DFL has offices) had their way with us yesterday. We will bounce back and I think the third movie will be determined in November."

Seifert's comments got us thinking -- Which lawmaker best fits each Star Wars role? Please be respectful. Disrespectful comments will be trashed. That being said, we have a sense of humor - so fire away -

Comment on this post

Michele Bachmann on Fox tonight

Posted at 3:06 PM on February 27, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Just got this in my inbox:

BACHMANN ON O'REILLY FACTOR Congresswoman Michele Bachmann will appear on Fox News' the O'Reilly Factor to discuss how our broken immigration system led to last week's Minnesota school bus crash in which four young kids died.

TONIGHT!
Wednesday, February 27th, 2008
7:00 to 8:00 pm CST
Re-airing at 11:00 pm CST
Fox News Channel
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pawlenty appeared on Grover Norquist's show

Posted at 3:10 PM on February 27, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Gov. Pawlenty appeared on Governor Norquist's monthly radio show, "Leave Us Alone" this afternoon. You can listen to the broadcast here (click on Leave Us Alone with Grover Norquist). Norquist is the president of Americans for Tax Reform, a group that opposes tax increases of any kind. They talked about Pawlenty's veto of the transportation bill and the decision by the Legislature to override the veto.

Molnau's fate could be determined Thursday

Posted at 6:27 PM on February 27, 2008 by Tom Scheck

The Minnesota Senate has tentatively scheduled a vote on Transportation Commissioner Carol Molnau for Thursday that could cost Molnau her job. DFL Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller wouldn't fully commit to holding the vote but he has informed the governor's office and several Democratic and Republican senators to prepare for the debate. DFL Senate leaders have repeatedly said that Molnau does not have the votes for confirmation and would effectively be fired when the vote occurred.

Pogermiller wouldn't fully commit to the vote but said he's been talking with Senators about removing her in an orderly and dignified fashion.

"There's no urgency on the other hand I think members are just at the point where they'd like to bring some closures to things and focus on other issues."

Pogemiller said he would have a better sense of whether they would take up Molnau's confirmation by Thursday morning. GOP Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem about said he was told to prepare for the vote. He said the timing is problematic especially after the veto override earlier this week.

"This will taint the session in a negative sort of way if it's not off to a rocky start already, this will put boulders in the path of the legislative session as we proceed forward."

Molnau, who also serves as Lieutenant Governor, has been the transportation commissioner since 2003. Critics say she mismanaged the department. Governor Pawlenty's spokesman, Brian McClung, said in a statement that Pawlenty won't fire her.

"Lt. Governor Molnau has indicated repeatedly that she will not be resigning. The Senate has the authority to confirm or not confirm her as commissioner and that decision has been in their hands for more than five years."

Pawlenty said earlier this week that he was preparing a list of candidates, acknowledging that her tenure as commissioner is about to come to an end. The Senate action will have no bearing on her role as Lieutenant Governor.