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Capitol View: April 16, 2008 Archive

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The Daily Digest: 4-16-08

Posted at 9:50 AM on April 16, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

Delta's acquisition of NWA dominates the news coverage.

AP says Minnesota politicians grapple with the Delta acquisition of NWA.

MPR and the Pi Press say politicians may not be able to stop it.

DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar may try to run out the clock on the deal.

Republicans in the Minnesota House pitch tax breaks to make the Delta headquarters in Minnesota.

A DFL state senator says Gov. Pawlenty shouldn't hesitate to call a special session if one is needed.

MinnPost says the street doesn't like the deal.

Consumers won't like it either.

But the Wall Street Journal says the deal isn't done yet.

There's also talk that Continental and United may merge.

State Government

Lawmakers tell MnDOT to plan for a choo choo on the Lafayette Bridge.

The number of state HIV cases is the highest since 1995.

Lawmakers are trying to take steps to cleaner cars and trucks.

Congress

GOP Sen. Norm Coleman wants to reduce the cost of reconstruction in Iraq.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar criticizes the EPA over traces of drugs in the water supply.

DFL Rep. Tim Walz and GOP Rep. Jim Ramstad introduce earmark reform. AP and CQ have stories.

GOP Rep. Jim Ramstad is mentioned in this AP story on mental health parity.

DFL Rep. Keith Ellison will be speaking in Topeka this weekend.

He's announcing a consumer justice caucus today and blogs about the cost of the Iraq war.

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann blogs about government spending.

2008 Race for President

Former MN GOP executive director Ben Golnick is in charge of the Midwest Mountain Region for John McCain's campaign.

2008 Race for Senate

The Hill said Chuck Schumer was a bit skeptical about Franken campaign but now backs him.

Al Franken makes a campaign stop in Rochester and will make one in St. Cloud.

2008 Race for Congress

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann has $1 million in the bank.

The Pi Press details the money race for all of the races.

Glenn Menze will challenge DFL Rep. Collin Peterson.

Pawlenty for VP Watch

Gov. Pawlenty will speak at the Wisconsin Republican Party Convention in May.

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Another indication the 3rd will be competitive

Posted at 12:28 PM on April 16, 2008 by Tom Scheck

The DCCC announced that Minnesota's 3rd District will be targeted in its Red to Blue campaign. The GOP is also focusing on the race through its Regain Our Majority Program.

Ashwin Madia just won the DFL endorsement over the weekend. Erik Paulsen is expected to pick up the GOP endorsement this weekend. David Dillon has the I-P endorsement.

GOP incumbent Jim Ramstad is not running for reelection.

Madia's misstatement

Posted at 2:59 PM on April 16, 2008 by Mike Mulcahy (25 Comments)

From MPR's Curtis Gilbert:

DFL 3rd District congressional candidate Ashwin Madia says he misspoke when he told Minnesota Public Radio that he voted for Al Gore in 2000. Madia now says he voted for George W. Bush that year.

"He flubbed it with you," Madia spokesman Chris Truscott said.

Madia won the DFL endorsement Saturday after a close race race with Sen. Terri Bonoff, DFL-Minnetonka. Bonoff had made an issue out of Madia's past support for Republicans, and some delegates said they were concerned about his DFL bona fides.

Madia has been open about supporting John McCain's failed presidential bid in 2000. But Minnesota Public Radio's Curtis Gilbert asked Madia two days before he was endorsed whether he had supported Bush that year after McCain fizzled. Here's a transcript of part of the interview :

MPR: 2000 election, of course, McCain wasn't the nominee. Did you actually vote for Bush in 2000?

Madia: No.

MPR: You didn't? You voted for Al Gore?

Madia: Yes.

Based on that exchange Minnesota Public Radio reported Friday that Madia never voted for Bush

Truscott said Madia wasn't trying to mislead DFL delegates about voting for Bush, and that he simply "botched" his answer. Madia says he became a Democrat around 2003, after becoming disenchanted with Bush. He says he voted for Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry in 2004.


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The feature examines statements made by Minnesota politicians and checks them for accuracy. Based on data analysis, document reviews and interviews with non-partisan analysts, statements are rated either true, false or inconclusive. PoliGraph is a collaboration between Minnesota Public Radio News and the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. More

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