The Daily Digest: 3-9-09

Posted at 8:31 AM on March 9, 2009 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

The Star Tribune finishes playing Where's Waldo with Governor Pawlenty's staff and finds that several are paid partly by state agencies. Why does it matter? Because it makes Gov. Pawlenty's office budget look smaller than it really is. It also doesn't look good when Pawlenty ordered a 5% across the board cut in all state agencies. The Legislative Auditor and a Senate Democrat say they need to look more closely at the issue.

The Pi Press says we'll see the budget plans in a few weeks from the governor and DFLers in the House and Senate.

Some Democrats are predicting a huge fight with Pawlenty over the budget.

3 out of 4 of those polled in the latest Fox9 poll oppose using public funding for a new Vikings stadium.

MnDOT will hand out its first contracts from the stimulus later this week.

Lawmakers renew their push for a one-year moratorium on home foreclosures.

Several gay couples are reportedly planning a lawsuit that challenges the state's Defense of Marriage Act.

Proposed wind-energy transmission lines are facing mixed reaction.

Some state landowners see a profit in not cutting trees.

A lawmaker backs off his bill that would ban headwear, including hijabs, in driver's license photos.

A bill would give contract preferences to disabled veterans.

Lawmakers are examining a later school start date.

Advocates for the disabled rally against funding cuts.

A bill would define horses as livestock.

D.C.

The Star Tribune takes a look at the earmark issue with a Minnesota bent.

President Obama will reverse former President Bush's stem cell policy.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar is working to get a reprieve for Liberians living in the U.S.

Klobuchar attends Ted Kennedy's birthday bash.

GOP Rep. John Kline says he's working to protect the secret ballot by opposing union backed card check.

CQ examines GOP Rep. Erik Paulsen dodged President Obama's coattails.

Local groups have high hopes for stimulus money.

2008 Race for U.S. Senate

Voters are tired of the Senate trial drama.

MPR looks at who is paying for the Senate trial.

Politico says the Democrats need Franken now more than ever.

Franken lost his argument to get an election certificate.

The Star Tribune wonders whether there will be a second election.

2012

A Fox9/Rasmussen poll says 61% of those polled don't think Pawlenty should run for President.

Comments (2)

For Kline to frame this as "pure unadulterated secret ballots" vs. "this new scary thing called card check" is completely misleading. Card check is in use right now and has been for decades. If I understand Kline's legislation correctly, he would ban the practice altogether. Since cards with workers' signatures are the mechanism the NLRB uses to trigger elections, making card check illegal would also end the elections altogether.

Posted by Chris | March 9, 2009 12:04 PM

Daily Digest reports:
"A bill would define horses as livestock."

Tom, what were they defining horses as before this bill was proposed? Would you look for me, I am afraid of the definition I'll find if I click on the story link.

Thanks in advance,
Bill Prendergast

Posted by Bill Prendergast | March 9, 2009 1:04 PM

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