Polinaut: January 6, 2009 Archive

Daily Digest: 1-6-09

Posted at 10:18 AM on January 6, 2009 by Molly Bloom (1 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

The Canvassing Board certified results showing Al Franken with a 225 vote lead, while Norm Coleman's campaign has promised a legal challenge today. MPR, Star Tribune, PiPress and AP have stories.

Al Franken gave a victory speech last night.

Political observers say Coleman's challenge could come with big costs.

Franken will not be in Washington today and Sen. Harry Reid said he will not try to seat him today.

Rep. Betty McCollum is urging that Franken be seated immediately.

MPR looks at Al Franken's journey to this point.

State Government

The 2009 legislative session opens today. MPR's Midday will be broadcasting live from the Capitol.

The budget will likely dominate the legislators' time, but the AP and Finance and Commerce look at some of the other issues to watch.

Schools are ready for a tough legislative session.

Minneapolis begins to figure out how it can cope with less aid from the state.

Duluth's mayor is proposing some changes to cope with budget cuts.

Moorhead's getting ready for cuts in services and layoffs.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty held a "Government Reform Summit" yesterday to get more budget ideas.

Congress

Minnesota's one new Congressman, and one of a few new Republicans, Erik Paulsen, will be sworn in today.

The federal government has run out of money for digital TV coupons. Sen. Amy Klobuchar has said she will push for new coupon money so the transition to digital TV will go smoothly.

Congress is pledging to pass an economic stimulus bill by mid-February.

Roland Burris, Gov. Rod Blagojevich's pick to replace President-elect Obama in the Senate, is in Washington, but it is unclear if he will be seated.

And the new members of the Democratic majority are a relatively moderate bunch.

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It was SRO(utside) the Coleman announcement

Posted at 3:38 PM on January 6, 2009 by Tim Nelson (1 Comments)
Filed under: Recount

It wasn't just the conference room in the State Office Building that was packed for Norm Coleman's announcement that he was planning to contest the November election in court. Even the hallway outside was standing room only.

"I think half the Republicans in the state are here," quipped one of the onlookers, peeking though the window from the hallway to watch Coleman's announcement.

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