Polinaut: March 12, 2009 Archive

The Daily Digest: 3-12-09

Posted at 8:59 AM on March 12, 2009 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

Republican Norm Coleman had a bad day yesterday. His DFL rival picked up 14 votes in the Senate recount trial, his hopes are down to 1360 ballots and his contributor list becomes public (with private information included). Coleman is urging his contributors to cancel their credit cards after the breach. The Secret Service is also investigating the issue.

AP, MPR, the Pi Press, Politico and the Star Tribune have stories.

All of this leads to a big question - Both campaigns are spending thousands of dollars a day on attorney's fees. Does the date breach turn off the fundraising spigot for Coleman?

The winter weather prevented Franken's team from resting their case in the trial.

Under the Dome

The chief backer of the Secretary of State's election bills is not happy with election reform and pulled his name on the bill. He said he's concerned about unfunded mandates on counties.

Local elected officials want greater control, fewer orders from the state.

A committee approved a bill that would provide a three-year exemption for students who don't pass high school tests. The bill says they would still receive their diplomas.

A bill that requires sick time for all workers clears a committee.

A MAC proposal to reclassify metro airports sets off a debate.

Gov. Pawlenty signs a bill that extends the moratorium on radiation therapy facilities.

State LGA cuts spur talk of city partnerships.

A Senate committee approves a bill that would allow dental therapists to drill and extract.

Legislators push for domestic-partner benefits for state employees.

The Minnesota Department of Health is sued over blood storage.

A bill that would ban research on the mentally ill is approved in committee.

Cabin owners are seeking a tax break.

Rochester city employees are approached to help balance the budget.

D.C.

Somalis tell Congress that a Minneapolis Mosque is recruiting youth to fight in Somalia. AP, the Star Tribune and MPR have stories.

The deficit spiked.

President Obama issues his first signing statement.

The U.S. loosens restrictions regarding Cuba.

The Obama Administration will reinvent the Mexican truck plan. DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar is mentioned.

The FAA funding bill clears committee. Oberstar is mentioned.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar supports a plan that would provide retroactive pay for some members of the armed services.

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann says she's encouraged by attempts to reel in earmarks.

A Democratic leaning group runs a radio ad that takes GOP Rep. Erik Paulsen to task for his association with Rush Limbaugh.

Catholics rallied in support of Liberians. Klobuchar and DFL Rep. Keith Ellison are mentioned.

DFL Rep. Collin Peterson supports a more intensive tracking system of livestock to prevent mad cow disease and other diseases.

Senate bill eliminates option for overturning school levy

Posted at 10:30 AM on March 12, 2009 by Tim Pugmire

A Minnesota Senate panel has approved legislation that would prevent school district voters from trying to overturn an operating referendum.

Under current law, levy opponents can force a do-over vote if they get 15 percent of the school district's voters to sign their petition. The bill originally raised that threshold to 30 percent. But the Senate E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division amended the measure today to eliminate the petition option all together. Sen. Dan Skogen, DFL-Hewitt, said the bill now goes further than he intended, but he supports the change.

"School districts are in a lot of pressure, and in our current economic times there's going to be under more pressure," Skogen said. "And they really don't need the day to day fight against the people who don't support referendums. And so I was looking to give them a little more protection."

The committee will consider including the measure in a larger Senate education bill.

DFL Senate targets

Posted at 11:44 AM on March 12, 2009 by Tom Scheck

Senate DFLers will hold a news conference later today to discuss "honest budget principles to balance the budget." The plan that Senate Democrats are considering would cut $2.1 billion in programs with nearly half coming from E-12 education. The plan would also include $1.1 billion in K-12shifts and calls for $2 billion in unspecified "new revenue." What is uncertain is how much of the money will be spared from the expected federal stimulus money. For example, DFL Sen. Leroy Stumpf of Plummer said he expects the $952 million in E-12 cuts to be offset with as much as $650 million in federal stimulus money.

Here are the targets created by Matt Massman with Senate Fiscal Staff...

K12 shift - $1.1 billion
New Resources - $2 billion

E-12 Education $952 million
Higher Education - $193 million
Health and Human Services - $627
Ag/Veterans - $26 million
Environment, Energy anmd Natural Resources - $21 million
Economic Development and Housing - $20 million
Public Safety - $36
Judiciary - - $24 million
Transportation - 12 million
State Government - $35 million
Tax Aids and Credits - $210 million
Increase in the budget reserve - $500 million

While this isn't the final Senate offer, it is the opening salvo in what could be a long budget discussion. In past years, Senate Democrats have used a strategy of promising deep cuts in education with the hopes of garnering support for a tax increase.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem said the plan is misguided and is concerned about the use of "new revenue." GOP House Minority Leader Marty Seifert said it's "the worst of both worlds. A massive tax increase and a massive cut in education."

Gov. Pawlenty's initial budget proposal uses one-time money, shifts and cuts to balance the budget. He'll release a supplemental budget soon. House DFLers have yet to propose a budget.

State lawmakers declare their support of the press

Posted at 1:17 PM on March 12, 2009 by Tim Pugmire

The Minnesota House unanimously passed a resolution today supporting freedom of the press and freedom of expression.

The resolution also upholds "the long-standing tradition of the Minnesota House of Representatives with regard to press access to committee meetings and floor sessions."

House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, raised the issue in response to reports that DFL leaders were considering new rules that would limit press access on the House floor and committee hearing rooms. Seifert said he was concerned about the proposed changes, which he claimed would have a "chilling effect."

"We want them to interview us," Seifert said. "We want them to cover us. When the tax increases come out again from the Democrats, we want them to cover that."

House Majority Leader Tony Sertich, DFL-Chisholm, who signed on as co-author of the resolution, admitted there had been some confusion about the issue.

"We are going to operate in a very fair way and make sure that this chamber, as it is always, is accessible and the committee rooms are accessible to the public," Sertich said.

Sertich also took the opportunity to reference Seifert's past opposition to flag burning.

"I'm a big supporter of the First Amendment, all facets of the First Amendment," Sertich explained. "He might be a little iffy on some of the other portions of the First Amendment."

New Senate DFL Targets

Posted at 5:03 PM on March 12, 2009 by Tom Scheck

The Senate DFL released their budget plan and it's slightly different than the plan circulating around earlier this week. The cuts are deeper because it doesn't include the K12 funding shift anymore. Here are the details:

E-12 Education - $973 million

Higher Education - $221 million

Health and Human Services - $719 million

Agriculture - $12 million

Environment, Energy and Natural Resources - $24 million

Economic Development - $22 million

Transportation - $15 million

Public Safety - $78 million

Judiciary - $53 million

State Government $44 million

Tax Aids and Credits - $240 million

Total Cuts- $2.4 billion

Note: These cuts do not include the federal stimulus money which will backfill some of the money.

Senate Democrats say they also intend to put $2 billion in unspecified new revenue on the table. DFL Sen. Tom Bakk, who chairs the Senate Taxes Committee, said he was leaning towards an income tax increase on wealthier Minnesotans.

You can read more about the plan and reaction to it here.