Polinaut: February 25, 2009 Archive

The Daily Digest: 2-25-09

Posted at 8:11 AM on February 25, 2009 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

President Obama says he will lead the nation and it's troubled economy to a brighter future. He made the remarks to a joint session of Congress.

Here's a fact check of his speech.

He says he's identified $2 trillion in budget cuts.

Obama also mentions Minneapolis in the speech.

The Rushford-Peterson Schools Superintendent attended the speech. DFL House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher also attended.

LA Gov. Bobby Jindal called the stimulus package "irresponsible." His GOP response was panned.

Here's the Minnesota reaction to the speech.

2008 U.S. Senate race

Republican Norm Coleman won't say if he'll continue legal challenges beyond the three-judge panel.

MPR reports that future appeals may delay Gov. Pawlenty's signature on an election certificate.

The Star Tribune says setbacks for Norm Coleman grow at the Senate recount trial.

The Pi Press and Forum Communications says the trial digs into voter complexities.

Under the Dome

Gov. Pawlenty is on the road this morning to announce the list of greater Minnesota transportation projects funded from the stimulus money.

Gov. Pawlenty says the court budget needs trimming despite pleas for more money from the state's top judge.

He also signs a bill sealing bridge victim records.

GOP legislators and Gov. Pawlenty spar over plan for welfare investigators.

GOP lawmakers are also proposing to move some Minnesota inmates to a private prison to save money.

Lawmakers are proposing a flurry of constitutional amendments.

State agencies debate as a mine pit in northern Minnesota fills.

The state will delay the implementation of fire sprinklers in new homes.

Pawlenty also singles out health care spending at a St. Cloud stop.

Secretary of State Mark Ritchie discusses election issues in the Bemidji area.

A fiber optic network vote fails in North St. Paul. Conservatives cheer.

Groups lobby to save arts funding.

DC

Hilda Solis is confirmed as Labor Secretary.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar met with struggling dairy farmers.

She also expresses concern about a possible merger between Ticketmaster and Live Nation.

Here's a link to what I reported yesterday regarding Central Corridor funding. DFL Rep. Betty McCollum secured money for the choo-choo.

MSNBC says GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann may be backing off of her "no-earmark pledge."

Bachmann also blogs that she probably won't like Obama's health care package even though it hasn't been introduced.

DFL Rep. Collin Peterson is reportedly ready to back Obama's pick to head the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

Is a high-speed rail between Chicago and the Twin Cities on the fast track? DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar is mentioned.

A Duluth to Twin Cities passenger train gets funding for an environmental study. Oberstar is mentioned.

Oberstar also praises Sully.

2010

Gov. Pawlenty tells Politico that if he runs for reelection he probably won't run in 2012.

Former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton, who is running for governor, sits down for an interview with MN Progressive Project.

Stu Rothenberg releases his House ratings for 2010. GOP Rep. Erik Paulsen and GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann are considered a "Republican favored."

2012

Pawlenty will speak at the annual CPAC Convention on Saturday.

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No Senators opt for cut in pay

Posted at 2:51 PM on February 25, 2009 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

Seven days after the Minnesota Senate instituted a measure to allow Senators to cut their own pay, no senator has taken that step. Last week, the Senate Rules Committee implemented a hiring freeze, a wage freeze and allowed senators to voluntarily cut their own salaries. The body took the action one day after several Republican lawmakers introduced legislation that would have cut the salaries of lawmakers and the state's constitutional officers. GOP Sen. Geoff Michel of Edina, who introduced the bill, said he's not taking a voluntary cut in pay because the entire body should do so.

"I'm trying to pass a bill that will actually save $600 thousand bucks. We're not going to do this one legislator at a time. We're going to have to do this as a branch and we're going to have to include other branches of government."

Michel said he's not taking the full amount of daily expense payments available to senators which he said saved the state about $7000.

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Pawlenty announces transportation projects from the stimulus bill

Posted at 3:08 PM on February 25, 2009 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)

Gov. Pawlenty and MnDOT Commissioner Tom Sorel released the list of transportation projects that will start in Greater Minnesota as a result of the federal stimulus bill. Here's the list of projects and a map.

Pawlenty and Sorel are flying around the state today to announce the porjects. Pawlenty has voiced his opposition to the federal stimulus bill but said during a stop in Rochester that he supported the capital investment projects in the bill:

"I suggested that the bill could have been improved by making that part of the bill even bigger. So our support and excitement and encouragement of these kinds of projects is what I thought would be a good stimulus approach for the economy."

DFLers aren't too pleased with Pawlenty's approach. Here's a statement released from DFL House Majority Leader Tony Sertich:

"The Governor is flying around Minnesota on state taxpayer dollars bragging about spending federal taxpayer dollars. This is funding he didn't want. It's ironic coming from a chief executive who vetoed state transportation bills several times."

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Obama's nearing decision on dog.

Posted at 4:46 PM on February 25, 2009 by Tom Scheck

WASHINGTON (AP) - The dog days are drawing near at the White House. First lady Michelle Obama says a Portuguese Water Dog should be taking up residence sometime in April.

She tells People magazine that the target date for the arrival is after her daughters' spring break trip.

The Obama family wants to get a Portuguese Water Dog from a rescue organization, a dog that is the appropriate age and temperament.

While they may have agreed on a breed, they still haven't decided on a name. The first lady says some of the ideas floating around, names like Frank or Moose, are "really bad."

Mrs. Obama also talks to the magazine about the family's daily routine in the White House. She says she and her husband are up at 5:30 a.m., exercise in the White House gym, and usually have breakfast together.

She also says the White House chefs cook "mean waffles and grits."

And she says the family all have dinner together every night, and that when her husband isn't traveling, he tucks the girls in.