The Daily Digest: 2-9-09

Posted at 8:49 AM on February 9, 2009 by Tom Scheck (4 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

President Obama will hit the road today to build public support for the stimulus package. He's speaking in Elkhart, Indiana where job losses continue to mount.

He will also hold a primetime news conference this evening.

The Senate will resume debate today over the package. A deal was reached over the weekend.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar supports the plan and says it will get the people back to work.

There will be major negotiating if the Senate passes the bill since the House and Senate have different priorities.

Meanwhile, DFL Rep. Collin Peterson is pushing a bill to limit credit swaps.

Peterson also said more cows should be headed for retirement since milk prices are tanking.

DFL Rep. Betty McCollum is said to support a high-speed rail route that doesn't include Rochester.

DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar says the threat of piracy worldwide could increase shipping costs.

State Government

A bill being introduced today would allow video slots in bars and the MSP Airport.

The DNR may have allowed a major fish virus into Minnesota. They spent $11,000 in taxpayer money to drain a lake after DNR officials allowed fish to be transferred there.

The Star Tribune takes a look at a debate at the Capitol regarding who can cash in on someone's life insurance policy.

The Pi Press says Gov. Pawlenty's budget removes dental care for the poor.

The budget crisis is also causing a court backlog.

The Outdoors Council seeks a bridge loan.

Some bar owners still oppose the statewide smoking ban. The one-year anniversary of its enactment is today.

Medical marijuana will get another hearing this week.

The health department will test the effects of firefighting foam.

Forum Communications says rural hospitals and nursing homes face budget problems under Gov. Pawlenty's budget proposal.

AP says the state's budget could be hurt as a result of the alleged Madoff scheme.

The state may tap out of jobless aid funds.

GOP House Minority Leader Marty Seifert says session is off to a slow start.

Bills are introduced to change deer hunting.

2008 U.S. Senate Race

DFLer Al Franken did a host of interviews over the weekend. He talked with several outlets including MPR, KARE, the Pi Press and Forum Communications on Friday. He also did a live sit-down with WCCO on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Republican Norm Coleman spoke with MPR and KSTP (can't find link yet).

The Pi Press says Coleman is relying on absentee ballots from heavy GOP areas.

The Star Tribune takes a look at how much longer the recount trial could last.

AP says there's no end in sight.

Secretary of State Mark Ritchie talked about the recount at a national conference.

2009

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak makes his third run for mayor official.

---

Comments (4)

Correction: it is NOT the one-year anniversary of the statewide smoking ban -- that went into effect on October 1, 2007.

What lawyer Mark Benjamin is celebrating is the one year anniversary of his failed "theater night" stunt where bar patrons and staff would violate state law, calling it a "theatrical performance." The state Department of Health and the courts soon dropped the curtain on "theater night."

Also, who is saying "Many bar owners still oppose smoking ban?" Benjamin? Jessica Mador's story, as it appears of the MPR webstite, cites no sources.

Posted by Bob Moffitt | February 9, 2009 1:53 PM

---

I'm sure "many bar owners still oppose" age restrictions on drinking, having to card customers, dram shop laws and a host of other laws. That doesn't mean we should listen to their constant yammering. How many of you know any impoverished bar owners? I've never known one.

Posted by George Hayduke | February 9, 2009 4:23 PM

---

you're right, bob. There was an error in a reporter's reporting. I'll fix.

Posted by tom scheck | February 9, 2009 5:24 PM

---

Thanks, Tom.

Posted by Bob Moffitt | February 10, 2009 6:31 AM

---

Post a comment

The following HTML tags are allowed in your comments:
+ Bold: <b>Text</b>
+ Italic: <i>Text</i>
+ Link: <a href="http://url" target="_blank">Link</a>
Fields marked with * are required.

Name*:

Email Address*:

URL:

Remember personal info?

Comments*:

Comment Preview appears above this form upon pressing the "preview" button. Edit your comment and press "preview" again, until you are satisfied with your comment.

Your comment may not appear on the blog until several minutes after it was submitted.

• E-mail this page
• Print this page
• Save to Delicious
• Submit to Digg
• Share this

Services

• Hourly Newscast
• HD Radio
• iPhone App / Mobile
• E-mail newsletters
• RSS feeds
• Podcasts
• Submit your photos
• Videos
• Weather
• Most e-mailed stories

Become a Sponsor