Polinaut: May 7, 2008 Archive

The Daily Digest: 5-7-08

Posted at 8:52 AM on May 7, 2008 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

The Minnesota House is in session at 11 AM. The Senate is in session at 3 PM. The Senate Potluck is also scheduled for today.

Gov. Pawlenty will attend the Declaration of Independence celebration at the Minnesota History Center and will also attend an event to mark Israel's 60th anniversary.

He was in Kansas to talk energy with other governors.

Wal-Mart also announced at the event that Minnesota's Capitol will get an energy audit.

The governor also told reporters in Kansas that he had trouble talking as a result of a hockey injury.

The transportation policy bill survives a misunderstanding and is now headed for floor votes. The Star Tribune, Forum Communications, the Pi Press and AP have stories. KARE says DFL Sen. Steve Murphy has some fighting words for Pawlenty's spokesman.

The Political Animal gives us a budget update as budget talks continue. Here's the question, are they moving centimeters, feet or yards?

Some lanes on the Duluth/Superior bridge will be closed to fix gusset plates. MPR, the Pi Press, the Star Tribune, AP and the Duluth News Tribune have stories.

Committees in the Minnesota House and Senate approve raising the drop out age.

The Legislature sends Gov. Pawlenty a new school report card plan.

Two constitutional amendment proposals are moving through the Legislature that would deal with (drum roll please) the Legislature.

A Judge hears arguments on the smoking ban case. The Pi Press and the Star Tribune have stories.

E20 survives compatibility and performance tests.

The high court will decide on criminal records expungement.

Gov. Pawlenty encourages the hiring of Minnesota's veterans.

MinnPost says forest materials have found a market.

MPR's Midmorning talks property taxes at 9 AM.

Congress

The Consumer Federation of America is said to support the Delta/NWA deal. DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar is mentioned.

President Bush appoints a Minnesota Democrat to the Federal Election Commission. She served as Klobuchar's policy director.

Russia, US sign a civil energy pact. GOP Sen. Norm Coleman does not like the proposal and is urging President Bush to not send the agreement to Congress.

DFL Rep. Tim Walz wants any new reconstruction in Iraq to be made in the form of loans.

Congressional members accuse the VA of criminal negligence. The agency has not been forthcoming with requests by Walz.

DFL Rep. Keith Ellison visits Egypt.

Reuters says Farm Law writers want tighter subsidy limits. DFL Rep. Collin Peterson is mentioned.

Reuters also said a Farm Bill veto does not mean the end.

The Farm Bill also slashed international food aid.

Ethanol producers take heavy criticism from Congress.

Farmers are also bracing for their own economic bubble to burst.

Tour boats will come back to Voyageurs National Park. DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar is mentioned.

The House will vote on a foreclosure rescue package.

2008 Race for President

Barack Obama wins walking away in North Carolina. Hillary Clinton narrowly wins Indiana. The New York Times says Clinton's options are dwindling. AP reports she loaned her campaign more money.

John McCain promises more judges like McCain and Alito.

Nearly a quarter of primary goers voted against McCain.

2008 Race for Senate

Al Franken is raising money in NYC today.

Update: WCCO says Dean Barkley may be getting in the race.

2008 Race for Congress

The Rothenberg Political Report releases the 2008 House ratings. Minnesota's 3rd is a toss-up, the 1st leans Democratic, and the 6th has the Republican favored.

MNBlue interviews 2nd District DFL candidate Steve Sarvi.

Politico says GOP leaders warn of disaster and worry that it could be "every man for himself."

Pawlenty for VP Watch

John McCain is headed to South Carolina and will appear at a fundraiser with South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford.

But the Southern Political Report says Sanford brings nothing to the ticket.

2008 RNC

The Star Tribune says anti-war groups sharpen their message for the GOP convention.

MPR says the RNC won't be good for every business.

Mike Gravel does Soulja Boy!

Posted at 1:09 PM on May 7, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Obama Girl has gotten on my nerves but this little ditty with Mike Gravel made me laugh out loud.

Wedge week!

Posted at 3:30 PM on May 7, 2008 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)

It appears that the Legislature will send Gov. Pawlenty some legislation that could force him to take stands against some controversial legislation (aka wedge issues).

The Minnesota House started debating a bill that would allow state money be used for embryonic stem cell research. Gov. Pawlenty has said he would veto the bill despite polling that suggests the research is favored nationwide. Anti-abortion groups and Christian conservatives don't like it because of life concerns.

Meanwhile, a conference committee has reached agreement on a bill that would increase the minimum wage. The governor has raised concerns about the agreement and his position is being watched by some national groups on the measure. On the downside, vetoing the bill may not help Pawlenty with low income voters and could contradict his campaign line that Republicans "need to be the party of Sam's Club, not just the country club."

The House is also expected to take up a bill soon that would allow chronically ill patients to legally buy and smoke marijuana to relieve their pain. The governor has said he would veto the bill because he "stands with law enforcement." The problem is that a majority of those polled in a recent Survey USA poll don't agree with law enforcement or with him.

Pawlenty didn't address these issues in a recent interview with Human Events but he did talk openly about his faith and his conservative credentials. It's a fascinating read for Pawlenty watchers.

Here's the question: Will these vetoes help or hurt Pawlenty with the conservative base? With the general public?

Comment on this post

McCain talks VP

Posted at 7:25 PM on May 7, 2008 by Tom Scheck

He tells the Daily Show that Dwight Schrute from "The Office" is being considered.

Budget watch

Posted at 7:49 PM on May 7, 2008 by Tom Scheck

No word on whether there will be budget talks tonight but here's the latest:

Governor Pawlenty and legislative leaders met last night and haven't met since. DFL House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher said one of the sticking points is what programs will be cut from the budget. They want to cut $355 million from the budget but the governor has put some caveats on those cuts. Kelliher said he didn't seem willing to cut his own spending priorities. She said they have agreed on $215 million in cuts but said the governor has to think about his top priorities in the next few days.

"We can't balance this budget on just making cuts to either things that either the Legislature cares about or that a lot of Minnesotans care about and not things the governor cares about. We all have to share in this..."

DFL Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller said they "were very close to an agreement" and is hopeful there will be one. He said they would process the bills in "an orderly, timely fashion" if there isn't an agreement.

There are still some other issues on the table. Governor Pawlenty wants a firm property tax cap and there is disagreement on whether $48 million from a Health Care Access Fund should be used to erase a portion of the $935 million projected budget deficit. The governor didn't have time to talk about budget negotiations when reporters contacted him tonight. I'm sure he'll address it during a news conference tomorrow morning.