Polinaut: June 9, 2009 Archive

The Daily Digest: 6-9-09

Posted at 7:01 AM on June 9, 2009 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

The state is pursuing more tax scofflaws.

Minnesota regulators drop the push to block online gambling.

Minnesota cops will start pulling over and fining unbelted drivers today.

The Midwestern Governors group sets greenhouse gas goals.

North Dakota's Industrial Commission has invited Minnesota legislators to see what power companies in the state are doing to cut down on carbon dioxide emissions.

The 35W bridge wreckage still has no home.

Legislative leaders will recap the session in Rochester on Wednesday.

D.C.

The New York Times has a fascinating article on President Obama's efforts to level the disparities in Medicare. The proposal has won tacit approval from Minnesota lawmakers since Medicare shortchanges Minnesota on funding.

Obama says he intends to speed up stimulus spending. The Chicago Tribune says it's an effort to confront doubts on the stimulus.

Obama is headed to Green Bay, WI on Thursday. The Minnesota Media and ESPN ask "What does this mean for Brett Favre? Will Brett Favre be there? What about a bailout for Favre" Sorry, had to get that off of my chest.

A Gitmo detainee arrives in New York City to face criminal charges.

Obama's Supreme Court pick Sonia Sotomayor fractures her ankle.

The GOP raised $14 million for 2010.

The U.S. Supreme Court delays the sale of Chrysler assets to Fiat.

The court also rejects a challenge to "don't ask, don't tell."

The court also said a state judge acted improperly by not recusing himself from a case that included a large contributor to the judge's campaign.

GOP Rep. Erik Paulsen sent a letter to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke late last week encouraging the Fed to stop monetizing debt -- or creating funds to buy U.S. treasuries.

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann will appear at a news conference today to call for an end to using taxpayer funds for abortion.

Radio stations across the country face a performance tax. DFL Rep. Collin Peterson says he opposes it.

Peterson also said he opposes the climate change legislation unless his concerns over ethanol are addressed. You can listen to yesterday's interview with MPR here.

DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar is seeking to recover $29 billion that was transferred from the Highway Trust Fund to the U.S. Treasury.

Oberstar is also backing legislation that would make it easier for Fed Ex workers to unionize.

2010

Former State Auditor Pat Anderson (who may also run for gov) confirms she has H1N1.

A bunch of candidates for governor will appear at an environmental forum.

DFL state Sen. Tom Bakk discusses why he thinks he's a strong candidate for governor.

2008 Race for U.S. Senate

MDE's Michael Brodkorb files data practices requests to view uncounted absentee ballots.

Progressives are also trying to pressure the NRSC over Coleman.

2012

Gov. Pawlenty responds to Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak's "butt kicking comment."

$1 a day to try to get Coleman to quit

Posted at 9:41 AM on June 9, 2009 by Mike Mulcahy (9 Comments)

A PAC called the Progressive Change Campaign Committee says it has raised nearly $150,000 by asking people to give $1 each day Republican Norm Coleman doesn't concede the Minnesota Senate race to Democrat Al Franken.

It plans to dole out the money to liberal Democratic challengers in 2010.

Peter True, a volunteer with PCCC, told me the fundraising campaign began in April and that about 5,000 people have contributed.

True said frustrated progressives are convinced that Coleman is prolonging the race to prevent Senate Democrats from achieving a 60-vote filibuster-proof majority. They hope that they can provide Republicans a financial incentive to urge Coleman to hang it up.

The Minnesota Supreme Court is currently considering Coleman's appeal of a lower court ruling that found Franken got 312 more votes last November. A decision could come any time.

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Sign of the Times

Posted at 11:23 AM on June 9, 2009 by Mike Mulcahy

MPR's Tom Weber snapped this in Edina today --

Pawlenty: no budget announcement before next week

Posted at 3:21 PM on June 9, 2009 by Mike Mulcahy

From MPR's Stephanie Hemphill...

Gov. Tim Pawlenty says he will not announce any spending cuts using his unallotment authority until next week or possibly the week after.

The governor talked to reporters after an event in Minneapolis. He also said he may be on Fox News Sunday this week, but probably by satellite. He has a previously announced speech in Arkansas coming up in couple weeks. He's also attending a Hunt Institute meeting next Monday in North Carolina.

I'll put the tape up in a few minutes.

Update: As promised here is the audio of the governor's brief conversation with reporters.

Listen

Report: Tim Penny rules out run for gov

Posted at 4:40 PM on June 9, 2009 by Mike Mulcahy

Heather J. Carlson of the Rochester Post-Bulletin reports that Tim Penny will not run again for governor. As the IP candidate trying to succeed Jesse Ventura, Penny lost a three-way race to Republican Tim Pawlenty in 2002. He tells Carlson, "I don't have the fire in the belly to get into politics at any level right now."

Pawlenty appears on Hannity, WCCO

Posted at 11:15 PM on June 9, 2009 by Tom Scheck

Gov. Pawlenty appeared on Sean Hannity's show tonight. Here's the video:

Update:

Pawlenty also sat down with WCCO's Pat Kessler. You can watch the interview here.