Polinaut: March 13, 2009 Archive

The Daily Digest: 3-13-09

Posted at 8:49 AM on March 13, 2009 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

Senate DFLers announced their budget plan. It includes $1 billion in education cuts and $2 billion in new revenue (most likely income tax hikes on the wealthy). MPR, the Pi Press, KARE, the Star Tribune, Forum Communications and AP have stories.

MnDOT will hand out the first stimulus funded road contracts today.

MnDOT also announces more Minnesota projects.

Minnesota is in line to receive stimulus money for energy projects.

Officials announce the $1 billion Elk Run project. MPR, the Star Tribune and the Rochester Post-Bulletin have stories.

Parents ask lawmakers for missing adult searches.

The Senate gives initial approval to a fix to Green Acres.

St. Paul is pitching a new hockey arena.

Pawlenty makes a stop in Worthington.

He also told folks in Marshall that it's time to tap the budget reserves.

2008 Race for U.S. Senate

The end may be in sight in the Senate trial (or perhaps mile 20 in a marathon?). The Pi Press, MPR, AP, MinnPost and the Star Tribune have stories.

D.C.

A Minneapolis Mosque reacts to the terror allegations.

President Obama says long-term investments can't wait.

The appropriations bill that President Obama will sign funds projects in southern Minnesota. DFL Rep. Tim Walz is mentioned.

DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar said the water bill is a priority. The House passed the bill.

The House Ag Committee wants Obama to leave the Farm Bill alone. DFL Rep. Collin Peterson is mentioned.

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann said the marriage penalty is on the rise.

Lakeville seeks a limit on federal train parking. GOP Rep. John Kline and DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar are mentioned.

2012

Gov. Pawlenty discusses the stimulus bill on Fox.

GOP leadership urges Coleman to take fight to federal court

Posted at 2:14 PM on March 13, 2009 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)

The Hill is reporting that Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnnell is urging Republican Sen. Norm Coleman to continue his fight in federal court.

McConnell said he would urge Coleman to take his legal fight to the federal courts, which could delay the outcome of the Minnesota Senate race for several more months.

"I don't know when this ends," said McConnell. "It seems endless at the moment."

If the battle went all the way to the Supreme Court, the result could be a long delay.

Both Coleman and DFLer Al Franken concluded their arguments today in the recount trial. The judges will consider the evidence and will rule. It's likely that the loser will appeal the matter to the Minnesota Supreme Court. The big question is when Gov. Pawlenty will issue the election certificate once the Minnesota Supreme Court weighs in on a potential appeal.

Update: Coleman laid out his appeal strategy to reporters.

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Legislative leaders on Almanac tonight

Posted at 4:50 PM on March 13, 2009 by Tom Scheck

DFL House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller, GOP House Minority Leader Marty Seifert and GOP Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem will be on TPT's Almanac tonight. THey will surely talk about the Senate DFL budget proposal that was released earlier this week.

News nugget for all of you budget hawks...

Kelliher said House Democrats will release their budget plan next Friday, March 20th. A group of Republican House members are also scheduled to "introduce a budget plan that will set the state's spending priorities for the 2010-2011 biennium" on Monday.

Gov. Pawlenty's spokemsna, Brian McClung, told MPR that it's likely, but not 100% certain, that Pawlenty will release his supplemental budget next week.