Polinaut: January 14, 2009 Archive

The Daily Digest: 1-14-09

Posted at 7:59 AM on January 14, 2009 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

Democrat Al Franken is asking the Supreme Court to force Gov. Pawlenty and Secretary of State Mark Ritchie to sign an election certificate declaring him the winner of the U.S. Senate race. Meanwhile 64 Franken voters filed a lawsuit calling for the court to require elections officials to count their votes. MPR, the Pi Press, AP and the Star Tribune have stories.

Meanwhile, Sen. John Kyl (R-AZ) is warning Democrats against seating Franken until GOP Sen. Norm Coleman's election contest is settled. Here's Kyl's speech.

Republicans, however, conceded during negotiations over committee assignments that Franken will be seated.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar's office is seeing increased traffic now that Minnesota has only one sitting senator.

2009 Legislature

The governors of Minnesota and Wisconsin are exploring ways that the two states can save money by sharing. One thing the two governors couldn't share is a plane. Gov. Pawlenty said he considered the option of flying commercial but using the state plane at a cost of several thousand dollars was cheaper since other staff members were also on the trip. The Pi Press, the Star Tribune, Forum Communications and MPR have stories.

DFL Rep. Paul Thissen (who's also running for governor) wants to allow the unemployed to immediately be available for temporary MinnesotaCare.

Thissen will also hold a news conference today calling for people to save tax free for long term care. The Pi Press has a preview.

A growing number of dislocated workers presents a funding challenge for the state.

11,000 Minnesotans keep their food stamp eligibility.

AP says states are looking to sell of roads and parks to balance budgets.

The American Lung Association says the state doesn't cough up enough cash for tobacco prevention.

AP says a state bond sale goes better than expected.

Politico says Gov. Pawlenty is part of a group of GOP governors urging action on global warming.

The MPCA wants to snuff out rural burning.

The state fines a beef processing firm for dumping waste into a ditch.

Congress

Obama's Treasury pick didn't pay some taxes.

Fed Officials say banks need more taxpayer money.

Confirmation hearings in the Senate focused on Obama's picks for Secretary of State, Education, Budget Director and Energy.

MinnPost says Minnesota's Congressional delegation is poised to shape the next stimulus.

2010

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak says he's running for reelection. He says he won't rule out a possible run for governor. MPR and the Star Tribune have stories.

Coleman wants trial to start on February 9th.

Posted at 12:18 PM on January 14, 2009 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)

Republican Norm Coleman wants the trial regarding his election contest to start on February 9th. In court papers filed today, the Coleman campaign also requested that the trial occur in stages. Campaign attorneys also want wrongly rejected absentee ballots to be the first issue taken up.

Comment on this post

ENPR: Some Republicans quietly hoping Coleman gives up

Posted at 3:59 PM on January 14, 2009 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Recount

The Evans Novak Political Report said in its latest issue that some Republicans are quietly hoping Coleman gives up his fight. Here's the synopsis from the conservative group:

Minnesota: Both sides continue to fight in the razor-tight Senate race, but the tension is subsiding as it increasingly appears inevitable that the Democrat will be seated.

When comedian Al Franken (D) asked Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) to certify him as a winner, Pawlenty said no, pointing to the state law that prohibits the governor and the secretary of state from declaring a winner while an election contest is ongoing. The Democratic secretary of the state has agreed with Pawlenty. Franken has gone to the state supreme court to appeal this application of the law.

Coleman, meanwhile presses forward with his contest of the election results. While possible improprieties were many and the canvassing board's nearly unanimous record of coming down in favor of Franken looks suspect, it's hard to see how Coleman could come out ahead. Indeed, some Republicans are quietly hoping Coleman will give up the fight.

In the meantime, Minnesota has only one senator. Democrats in the upper chamber haven't shown a rush to seat Franken, seeing his eventual certification as imminent.

Meanwhile, a group of Republican voters held a news conference today to say they intend to file a lawsuit calling on the courts to ensure no double counting occurred.

MPR's Curtis Gilbert also analyzes whether the election was stolen.

The State of the State blueprint

Posted at 4:47 PM on January 14, 2009 by Tom Scheck (4 Comments)

Gov. Pawlenty will deliver his State of the State speech on Thursday at noon. MPR News will provide live radio coverage of the speech.

Since this is the governor's seventh State of the State, there have been some familiar talking points that he's relied upon.

Here's a handy dandy checklist (which you can mark off if/when the items come up):

1) He will use the term "innovation."
2) He will mention a hard working entrepreneur who was down on his/her luck but then turned that luck into something groundbreaking (Medtronic, Mayo Clinic, Sister Kenney, etc.).
3) He will bring up the term "shared sacrifice."
4) He will single out an individual in the audience for inspiration.
5) He will mention the cold weather as something that Minnesotans can shrug off, but turn serious and say it's a challenge we need to overcome to attract jobs.
6) He will criticize the state's tax policy.
7) He will highlight something that is/will be "nation leading."
8) He will showcase the strength and spirt of Minnesotans.
9) He will bring up a well known Minnesotan (Charles Lindbergh, Kirby Puckett, etc.).
10) He will mention Minnesota's high rankings in health care, education, etc.
11) He will mention at least one Minnesota Fortune 500 Company.
12) He'll blame the economic mess on the national climate.
13) He will threaten to use his veto authority.
14) He will say the economy can't sustain a tax increase of any kind.
15) He will mention a successful Minnesota system but will then call for "needed reform" to the system (K12 schools, health care rates).
16) He will talk about the Ipod generation.
17) He will mention an important part of Minnesota history.
18) He will appoint a task force or a commission.
19) He'll use the phrase "job killer" in relationship to taxes.
20) He'll use the term "unsustainable spending."
21) He'll criticize attempts to add money to the state's credit card.
22) He will quote a bible verse.
23) He'll warn against being complacent.
24) He'll mention the sacrifices of previous generations.
25) He'll mention Democratic governors from other states who don't want to raise taxes.
26) He'll mention veterans or those in serve in the military.
27) Not only does he mention the military, he will point out a service member in the gallery for a standing ovation.
28) He'll mention Tom Friedman, Peter Drucker or another "big thinker."
29) He will say something like "The state needs to tighten its belt, just like families have to do..."
30) He will propose a "21st Century education reform."
31) He will use the phrase "veto pen."
32) He will ask God to bless the State of Minnesota.

1) Democrats will say the speech didn't offer specifics.
2) They will say he is turning his backs on the poor, school children, hard working Minnesotans.
3) They will call for a "balanced approach" to the budget.
4) They will say his speech was more style than substance.
5) They will say he's running for President.
6) They will heartily avoid questions about their intent to raise taxes.
7) They will call for him to be more engaged with the Legislature.
8) They will say the governor didn't offer any new ideas and will call other proposals "rehashed."
9) They will ask that he doesn't wait until the last minute to strike a budget deal.
10) They will talk about job creation as their main focus.
11) They will call for public meetings.
12) They will encourage him to provide them with details of their budget proposal.
13) They will also ask for the budget to be provided in "bill form."
14) They will call on Pawlenty to be less political/partisan.
15) They will say they really, really want to work with the governor, not clash with him.

Question of the Day:

Are we missing any?

UPDATE: See how we did in the comments section.

Comment on this post