Polinaut: July 1, 2008 Archive

The Daily Digest: 7-1-08

Posted at 6:30 AM on July 1, 2008 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

Filing for political office starts today. Candidates have until July 15th to file.

Mike Hatch is still getting plenty of attention even though he's been out of the Attorney General's office for a year and a half. The Legislative Auditor says he may investigate a deal between the AG and a credit card company that occurred during Hatch's tenure. Current Attorney General Lori Swanson was Hatch's Solicitor General at the time of the deal. MPR, the Star Tribune and AP have stories.

The Legislative Auditor also released a report on charter schools. He said they need greater oversight. The Star Tribune and AP have stories.

Gov. Pawlenty is in Austin, Texas today to start his term as chair of the Education Commission of the States.

The New York Times says budget pains hit the states with no relief in sight.

The Minnesota Health Department is reporting that the number of abortions is down slightly in Minnesota.

The St. Cloud Times takes a look at the new laws that take effect today.

The metro area sales tax for transit kicks in today.

The Taste of Minnesota will offer on site voter registration. It's part of the 80 percent by '08 campaign.

Northshore Mining Co. was fined for landfill violations.

Minnesota pays $65k in legal expenses for the failed game law.

The City of St. Paul spurns Ford and goes with Toyota.

UPDATE: Here's a comment from St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman's spokesman: "That partnership with Toyota was for funding we put into our parks department, and the donation of vehicles. The implication that there was some sort of Ford/Toyota option there was not based in anything that resembles any kind of facts."

Pawlenty makes appointments to the Broadband Task Force.

Congress

There's a new chief of Minnesota's federal bench.

2008 Race for President

Barack Obama is headed to Fargo on Thursday.

Obama also takes a swipe at MoveOn.org. Paging Sister Souljah!

ABC says Obama shifted on Welfare Reform.

Politico says John McCain's support for ending the moratorium on offshore drilling papers over the divide with conservatives on environmental issues.

John McCain is headed to Latin America where one of his advisers has long ties.

2008 Race for U.S. Senate

The DFL tries to keep pressure on GOP Sen. Norm Coleman on his rental arrangement. MPR, Minnesota Independent, the Star Tribune, KARE and MinnPost have stories.

Coleman acknowledges hard times in his latest ad.

Pawlenty for VP Watch

The New York Times looks at the timing of picking a running mate.

Politico says former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is the front runner.

Pawlenty continued to make the national media rounds on Monday.

Here's a recap of Pawlenty's media appearances in the last week. He did phone interviews with Michigan based WJR and WTIC out of Hartford, CT.

He appeared on ABC's This Week on Sunday.

He sat down for an interview with the Christian Broadcast Network.
The interview is split in clips:

Pawlenty says he's not bashful about his faith in Christ. Video clip here.

Pawlenty says McCain will make Evangelicals proud. Video clip here.

Pawlenty on McCain's relationship with Evangelicals. Video clip here.

Pawlenty on VP speculation. Video clip here.

On Monday morning, he appeared on Fox News.

Pawlenty was also on Sean Hannity's Radio show on Monday but I can't find an audio link.

Investor's Business Daily says McCain needs to go for broke with his VP pick. Pawlenty is mentioned.

2008 RNC

Politico says a lobbying loophole funds conventions.

MPR says the RNC will come to Minneapolis too.

Ron Paul's Revolution Convention could feature Willie Nelson.

Ethics complaint filed against Coleman.

Posted at 11:18 AM on July 1, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

The watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed a complaint with the Senate Ethics Committee today against GOP Sen. Norm Coleman. The complaint asks the committee to investigate whether Coleman violated the Senate gift ban by accepting lodging from GOP operative Jeff Larson.

The National Journal reported last week that Coleman both missed and was late paying his monthly rent payments (which was $600). Coleman defended his decision to rent the apartment saying Larson is a long time friend and is not a lobbyist.

(UPDATED WITH RESPONSE FROM COLEMAN CAMPAIGN)

Coleman's campaign called the complaint politically motivated. It also called Melanie Sloan, the head of CREW, a "surrogate" for Coleman's DFL challenger, Al Franken.

"Melanie Sloan was a featured guest who made at least 50 appearances on Al Franken's radio show -- appearances that were marked with theme music dedicated to her, and made her a reliable attack dog for the Democrat Party," said Coleman campaign spokesman Luke Friedrich.

"The record is clear that Senator Coleman paid fair market value for a cramped basement bedroom, and attacks by Franken's surrogates won't change those facts," he added.

MPR has a story about the ethics complaint here.

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First come, first served

Posted at 11:25 AM on July 1, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Filing for political office started today. MPR's Tom Weber was up bright and early (which is nice since he's the early guy) and gave us a rundown of who were the first candidates to file. Here's his description:

1. GOP state rep. Joyce Peppin (had been there nearly 24 hours - spent the night napping and getting caught up on email, thanks to wi-fi in the state office building)

2. Dick Franson, DFL running for U.S. Senate. (6th run for US Senate; 23rd run for public office) Former one-term Minneapolis alderman showed up at 7 a.m.

3. Bill Dahn, running for U.S. Senate under Independence party (another perennial candidate)

4. Joy Bartscher, running for open judge seat in Ramsey County (showed up about 7:55)

5. Terri Stoneburner, incumbent, Minnesota Court of Appeals (showed up right around 8:00 am)

6. Harriet Lansing, incumbent, Minnesota Court of Appeals (showed up right around 8:00 am)

7. Kevin Ross, incumbent, Minnesota Court of Appeals (showed up right around 8:00 am)

8. Edward Toussaint, incumbent, Minnesota Court of Appeals (showed up right around 8:00 am)

You can view the filings yourself by clicking here.

Pawlenty to speak at GOPAC

Posted at 11:50 AM on July 1, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Gov. Pawlenty is scheduled to speak at the 1st Annual GOPAC State and Local Summit in Arlington, VA on August 6th. The group describes the meeting as a 2 day summit for State Party Executive Directors, Political Directors and Legislative Campaign Directors and staffers from all 50 states. GOPAC's website describes itself this way:

He (Delaware Governor Pete du Pont) knew that the work of building a Republican political infrastructure capable of winning -- and governing -- across America would take a generation. In 1979, GOPAC went to work.

GOPAC was a new national organization dedicated exclusively to electing Republicans to state and local offices. Within its first decade, it grew to be one of the country's largest and most influential partisan political action committees. The organization concentrated on making direct contributions to promising candidates in competitive state legislative and municipal elections nationwide. In a short period of time, GOPAC helped Republicans make meaningful progress.

Pawlenty isn't the only possible VP pick that will speak at the event. South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal have been invited to speak as well.

UPDATE: Rachel Stassen-Berger, that Political Animal, said Pawlenty also raises money for the group.

Why the candidates are talking about increased drilling

Posted at 12:33 PM on July 1, 2008 by Tom Scheck

From the Associated Press:

WASHINGTON (AP) - A new poll shows high gasoline prices have dramatically changed Americans' views on energy and the environment. More people now say expanding oil drilling and building new power plants is a bigger priority than energy conservation.

The poll by the Pew Research Center shows nearly half of those surveyed - or 47 percent - now rate energy exploration, drilling and building new power plants more important, compared with 35 percent in February.

The Pew poll of about 2,000 adults conducted in late June shows the shift toward energy development across the political spectrum including among Democrats, political independents, liberals and young people.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-07-01-08 1310EDT

Franken moves on the federal gas tax

Posted at 3:04 PM on July 1, 2008 by Tom Scheck

MPR's Mark Zdechlik reports that Al Franken's website says the DFL candidate for U.S. Senate no longer supports a federal gas tax increase. You can read the report here.