Polinaut: January 23, 2009 Archive

The Daily Digest: 1-23-09

Posted at 9:00 AM on January 23, 2009 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

Minnesota lost more jobs in December. The unemployment rate hovers near 7%. MPR and the Star Tribune have stories.

House Republicans want a five-year tax holiday for businesses that relocate or expand in Minnesota.

Obama's stimulus plan could be a boost for Minnesota. The figures come from an NCSL analysis of the action in the House Appropriations committee.

Schools could also get some money from the stimulus.
The U of M pleads for a minimum budget hit.

Gov. Pawlenty says there will be no new taxes and few fee hikes in his budget proposal.

The Pi Press says counties are willing to allow the state to cut mandates.

Higher Ed Commissioner Susan Heegaard is leaving to take a job at the Bush Foundation.

Legislators plan to overhaul the charter school system.

A group works to eliminate same sex discrimination in Minnesota law.

Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson sues Allina over the amount of interest charged on medical debt.

Thousands rally against abortion at the Capitol.

Lawmakers vow to fix the broken farmland program.

2008 U.S. Senate race

Court rejects Democrat Al Franken's bid to toss out the lawsuit. AP, the Pi Press and the Star Tribune have stories.

Republican Norm Coleman gets a new job.

Coleman also continues his media push to make his case on why he'll win. He sat down for interviews with AP and KARE.

He also sends a video message to supporters.

Coleman also wants to send inspectors to 86 precincts.

Congress

President Obama orders Gitmo and secret prisons closed.

House Democrats push Obama's tax plan through committee.

The Farm Forum wonders where Ag will spend Obama's millions. DFL Rep. Collin Peterson is mentioned.

Peterson also met with Obama's pick to head the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

A Survey USA poll says Obama's approval is at 64% in Minnesota.

The Senate passed a wage discrimination limits bill.

DFL Rep. Betty McCollum has been named to the House Budget Committee.

GOP Rep. John Kline has been named to the Ethics Committee.

A few of GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann's staffers move to other positions.

MinnPost profiles DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar.

Pawlenty to appear on MPR's Midday

Posted at 3:58 PM on January 23, 2009 by Tom Scheck

I'm told Gov. Pawlenty will be a studio guest on MPR's Midday at 11 AM on Monday. He's making the appearance one day before he's scheduled to release his budget proposal. He will take call-in questions.

Update: Pawlenty also sat down with TPT to preview his budget.

Entenza running for governor

Posted at 6:18 PM on January 23, 2009 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)

A spokeswoman for Matt Entenza said the St.Paul resident filed the official paperwork with the Campaign Finance Board (but it hasn't been filed at the board's site yet). He has announced, however, on this website.

Entenza served in the Minnesota House between 1995 and 2007. He ran for Minnesota Attorney General in 2006 but dropped out of the race after he was criticized for hiring a research firm to investigate then attorney general Mike Hatch. At the time, Entenza said he was leaving the race because he didn't want the situation to harm other DFL candidates.

Entenza's spokeswoman, Bridget Cusick, hedged a bit when asked if Entenza would abide by the endorsement. When asked, Bridget Cusick said "Of course, as long as everyone plays by the same rules, yes." When asked if he would run in a primary if a certain department store heir decided to skip the endorsement, Cusick said "I will stand by what I said earlier."

When asked if Entenza would use any of his personal wealth for the seat (Entenza's wife Lois Quam was CEO of Ovations, a UnitedHealthGroup subsidiary), Cusick said they filed the paperwork to start raising money but "No matter what the case is, we'll have the funds to run an effective campaign."

Entenza is joining an already crowded DFL field in his quest to be governor. Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner, former state Senator Steve Kelley, state Representative Paul Thissen, state Senator John Marty, state Senator Tom Bakk and former U.S. Senator Mark Dayton have all filed the necessary paperwork to run. Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty has not said whether he intends to run for reelection. He said he will announce his intentions later this year.

(H/T MN Progressive Project)

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