Polinaut: April 14, 2008 Archive

The Daily Digest: 4-14-08

Posted at 8:04 AM on April 14, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

Reports say a merger announcement between Delta and NWA could come on Tuesday. I reported earlier that NWA hired a ton of lobbyists. It looks like they'll now be going to work.

I'm sure Gov. Pawlenty will talk about this during an afternoon news conference. That event will focus on helping homeowners facing foreclosure.

He does this at a time when a poll says more people are avoiding home purchases.

MPR says courts are feeling the budget pinch.

Met Council Chair Peter Bell tells Lori Sturdevant that the governor didn't consult with him before he vetoed the Central Corridor Light Rail Line.

The Star Tribune asks whether Minnesota's wildcat law too lame? A show of hands from those who knew there was a wildcat law? Great picture of the big cat.

Statewide school testing starts today.

Attorney General Lori Swanson was on Dateline NBC.

Minnesota may tighten vehicle emissions.

Congress

DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar continues to oppose the NWA merger.

DFL Rep. Keith Ellison visits Cincinnati.

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann's efforts regarding the light bulb are mentioned in this op-ed by the president of the Heritage Foundation.

The Farm Bill reaches a deadline. DFL Rep. Collin Peterson is mentioned.

The Senate also counters a House proposal on the Farm Bill. Peterson is mentioned.

2008 Race for Senate

50% of the delegates at the Mower County DFL Convention have pledged support for Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer, 20% to Al Franken and 30% are undecided.

Pawlenty for VP Watch

Gannett has a profile of former White House Budget Director and former Ohio Congressman Rob Portman, who is mentioned as a possible VP pick for McCain.

2008 RNC Convention

A major civic festival will be announced today. It will coincide with the RNC.

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Franken on Midday

Posted at 8:39 AM on April 14, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

Al Franken, a Democrat running for the U.S. Senate, will be on Midday today at 11 AM. Franken's DFL opponent, Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer, will be on the show tomorrow. Franken is also starting a tour of the suburbs today. Here's part of the release:

U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken will be visiting with middle-class Minnesotans this week as part of his "On Your Side" tour to talk with working families about the squeeze they're facing in the Bush-Coleman economy and his ideas for putting prosperity back within reach for working people.

Franken and Nelson-Pallmeyer are hoping to challenge GOP incumbent Norm Coleman.

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Paulsen raised $382K

Posted at 11:23 AM on April 14, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Erik Paulsen raised $382,000 in the first quarter of the year. Paulsen, the only Republican running for Congress in Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District, is hoping to replace GOP Rep. Jim Ramstad. The DFL Party endorsed Ashwin Madia over the weekend. The Independence Party backed David Dillon. Here's the Paulsen release:

Paulsen Raises $382,819 in First Quarter

Cash on hand reaches nearly $690,000

Eden Prairie - Third District Congressional candidate Erik Paulsen raised $382,819 in the first three months of 2008, bringing his total for the campaign to $772,124. Paulsen's cash on hand is $688,342.

"This report shows Erik has real momentum," said Dan Rice, one of the campaign's finance chairs. "People are responding to Erik's strong record of accomplishment in the Legislature and know he will fight to keep taxes low and rein in out-of-control spending in Washington."

"We are off to a strong start," Paulsen said. "People are excited and energized by my message. They want a Congressman who will fix Congress and get things done for Minnesota families."

"I expect a spirited campaign and this report shows we are going to have the resources we need to get our message out," Paulsen said.

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Pawlenty said it but didn't mean it.

Posted at 4:30 PM on April 14, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Gov. Pawlenty said in a news conference today that he did, indeed, tell one of his staff members to direct this comment to DFL House Majority Leader Tony Sertich:

"Cheap Shots are cheap but they aren't free.."

The phone call came after an MPR story in which Sertich said the governor was not engaged in the legislative discussions. Sertich claimed last week that the Republican governor followed through on the threat by vetoing three bonding bill projects last week from Sertich's district. Pawlenty said at the news conference that he was trying to explain the inflammatory comments could hurt their working relationship.

"Well, I think Rep. Sertich is fond of the theater, and he likes to be involved in drama. I think he's over-dramatizing a little bit. We did not connect those comments to any sort of threat regarding legislation or projects. I think that is something that he's taking liberties with."

A reporter asked whether the staff member made that comment to Sertich.

Pawlenty: "One of my staff members did say that, yes."

Reporter: "Did you tell him to pass that on?"

Pawlenty: "Yes."

Break out the stakeout chairs!

Posted at 4:35 PM on April 14, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Springtime is officially here. The legislative leaders will make their annual pilgrimage to the governor's office with the hopes of reaching a deal on the budget. There will be arguments about open meetings vs. closed meetings. There will be suggestions that folks aren't negotiating "in good faith" and are "just playing political games." And some poor reporter will look at their keyboard and think to themselves "How do I not write this lede":

"The legislative process ground to a halt today as tempers flared and battle lines were drawn."

Here's the release on the meeting:

Legislative leaders to meet with Governor

Minnesota State Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller, House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, House Majority Leader Tony Sertich, and Senate Assistant Majority Leader Tarryl Clark will be meeting with the Governor for budget talks on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at 10 a.m. in the Governor's office. Legislative leaders initiated the meeting and asked it be done in a public setting. However the Governor has asked for the meeting to be private.

The four leaders will be available to the media immediately following the meeting.