The Daily Digest: 3-30-09

Posted at 8:29 AM on March 30, 2009 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

Officials in northwestern Minnesota and North Dakota are assessing the flood damage and checking on levees throughout the region.

Under the Dome

DFLers in the Minnesota House will release their Bonding Bill today.

Both the House and Senate could vote on a fix to Green Acres as early as today.

GOP Rep. Tom Emmer pushed to put the brakes on penalties for DWIs. That drew some attention to Emmer's criminal record.

A DFL House member says oversight of the stimulus bill is lacking.

Gov. Pawlenty says furloughing state workers could help the budget.

Could fuloughs prevent layoffs?

The Star Tribune says the DFL dilemma is figuring out whether to sacrifice K12 or health care from budget cuts.

Minnesota's public defenders are buried by caseloads.

The New York Times profiles HCMC.

D.C.

Few in the flood zone have flood insurance.

DFL Rep. Collin Peterson got a bird's eye view of the flooding.

President Obama is going to give GM two months to restructure. GM's CEO agreed to step down.

DFL Rep. Tim Walz questions whether cutting farm subsidies will cure the federal deficit.

Two Minnesota counties say they feel left out because of GOP Rep. John Kline's no earmark pledge.

Fox News says GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann is managing her candor. The report speculates she may run for governor or senator.

The Hill also says Bachmann is not keeping a low profile.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar visits Des Moines, IA.

The Duluth News Tribune says Congress will take less out of your paycheck starting April first. DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar is mentioned.

2008 Race for U.S. Senate

Politico says it's still November for the Senate race.

DFLer Al Franken says he will be seated.

Nasser Kazeminy questions the credibility of an ex-associate in court papers. He was reacting to a deposition that said Kazeminy worked to funnel money to Republican Norm Coleman and his family.

2010

MinnPost handicaps the DFL field.

2012

John McCain says Gov. Pawlenty could be a strong candidate for president.

Comments (1)

I'm surprised by your citing that McCain says Pawlenty would be a strong candidate.

Here's the transcript :
GREGORY: In terms of future leaders of the Republican Party, would you like to see Sarah Palin become president?

MCCAIN: I’d like to see her compete. I think we’ve got some very good candidates: Jon Huntsman and -- the problem, when I run down these names, I always leave -- leave out a -- a name -- Bobby Jindal, Tim Pawlenty. There’s -- there’s so many. There’s a lot of good, fresh talent out there.

GREGORY: But would you support Palin?

MCCAIN: Oh, I’d have to see who the candidates are and what the situation is at the time. But have no doubt of my respect, admiration and love for Sarah and her family.

- - - -

I think the comment should have been that "McCain slights Palin while acknowledging that there are a "good, fresh talent" including Pawlenty."

I don't think that McCain is saying that Huntsman is number 1 or that Pawlenty is number 3 ... in fact his real comment is that he may leave somebody out by not referencing them. Notice that he only listed current Governors ... not Former Governors like Mitt Romney or Jeb Bush or Mike Huckabee ... or current members of Congress.

Do you recall if McCain has ever answered this question that it wasn't the same answer ... something along the lines of maybe Palin but there is also (fill in the blank) and I am not sure if at least once that Pawlenty was not mentioned.

Posted by Minnesota Central | March 30, 2009 12:02 PM

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