The Daily Digest: 5-20-08

The latest Star Tribune poll gives Gov. Pawlenty a 54% approval rating.

54% of those polled also say it's ok for Pawlenty to accept a spot on the McCain ticket.

Gov. Pawlenty will be on Midday this morning at 11 AM.

2008 Legislative session

Gov. Pawlenty and DFL legislative leaders tout the 2008 legislative session's accomplishments at various stops in the state. MPR, Forum Communications and KARE have broad overviews.

Stops were made in several cities including Duluth, St. Cloud and Bemidji.

AP says the session started with acrimony but ended with accord.

The Pi Press has a session checklist.

WCCO highlights the winners and losers from the session.

MinnPost's Bob Whereatt spins his magic.

Cities start dealing with a property tax cap. KARE and MPR have stories.

MPR looks at the health care reform piece, the Central Corridor, the Lake Vermilion plan and higher ed funding cuts.

The Star Tribune also has looks at K12 and higher education but I can't find the links. Send them to me and I'll put them up when I can.

The Duluth News Tribune says Minnesota will pay double to local governments for the proposed state park land.

The Pi Press says the Mall of America expansion faces a new obstacle.

Not to rain on the end of session party, but State Economist Tom Stinson says the state economy is in a fragile situation.

The Star Tribune has a profile of DFL House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher.

I've been a bit busy of late so I missed the first couple of parts of the Pi Press series on drug payments to doctors. Have a look here.

A Minnesota Charter School must correct areas related to religion.

A report finds a racial gap in student suspensions.

Congress

GOP Sen. Norm Coleman touts the Farm Bill in Willmar and Mankato.

The Wall Street Journal says some cell phone companies and lawmakers are pushing to end exclusive cell phone deals. DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar is mentioned.

DFL Rep. Tim Walz stares at the problem of foreclosure, literally.

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann gets a blog.

President Bush will veto the Farm Bill swiftly. DFL Rep. Collin Peterson is mentioned.

NBC has a story on airline safety. DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar is mentioned.

Oberstar is also headed to Florida.

2008 Race for President

Barack Obama is expected to win a majority of pledged delegates after today's primary voting in Oregon and Kentucky is over.

Hillary Clinton says the race is not over but this national Gallup poll suggests it is.

The New York Times says John McCain is finding a thorny path in his ethics efforts.

DFL Rep. Keith Ellison tells The Hill that John Edwards would be a better VP choice than Clinton.

2008 Race for U.S. Senate

The Rothenberg Political Report says the Minnesota race is a toss-up.

Pawlenty for VP Watch

Survey USA polls on a possible McCain/Pawlenty ticket in New Mexico. Here's the write-up. Here's the poll.

Finally

Posting on the blog will be sporadic over the next few days since the session beat me into the ground.