Capitol View: April 15, 2009 Archive

DNC ad buy is meager

Posted at 10:04 AM on April 15, 2009 by Tom Scheck

Minnesotans better listen carefully if they want to hear the DNC ad calling for Republican Norm Coleman to concede. A source with knowledge of the buy say it will run on two stations, KSTP-AM and AM950. The DNC bought 4 spots on at KSTP-AM at a cost of $850. Here are the details on when they'll run:

4/16 5 AM - 10 AM - 1 spot
4/16 3 PM - 7PM - 1 spot
4/17 5AM - 10 AM - 1 spot
4/17 3 PM - 7PM - 1 spot

The source with knowledge of the buy said they may run additional ads next week if Coleman doesn't concede.

UPDATE: A source with knowledge of the ad buy says the buy on AM950 (Air America station) is much bigger but wouldn't say how much bigger.

Bakk's bet on jobs

Posted at 2:26 PM on April 15, 2009 by Tim Pugmire

The tax committee chairman in the Minnesota Senate is promising a bill that balances the state budget and grows new jobs.

Sen. Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, says the state has been moving backwards on job creation. He says the tax bill coming out next week will invest a significant amount of money in economic development. DFL Senate leaders have said they need $2 billion in new revenue under their plan to erase the state's $4.6 billion budget deficit. During a committee hearing today, Bakk said the state has a huge job problem. Bakk, who's running for governor in 2010, was particularly critical of the record of the current administration.

"I will bet anybody in this room that wants to bet $100 that under Gov. Pawlenty, at the end of eight years, the state is going to have negative jobs," Bakk said. "There are going to be less jobs in Minnesota at the end of his term than there was at the beginning."

Senate Republicans are also pushing for more jobs. But Minority Leader Dave Senjem, R-Rochester, says, tax increases aren't the way to get there.

"If we're 41st in the country in overall business climate, from a tax perspective, will we be better if we're 42?," Senjem asked. "I doubt that we will."