Polinaut: June 23, 2009 Archive

The Daily Digest: 6-23-09

Posted at 6:56 AM on June 23, 2009 by Tom Scheck (0 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

The Legislative Advisory Commission is scheduled to meet again next week to discuss Gov. Pawlenty's unallotment plan.

The Star Tribune wonders whether the disabled will be left on the curb after legislative action and Gov. Pawlenty's unallotment.

The Minnesota State Bar is going to weigh in on the change to attorneys fees.

A group wants the soon to be cut campaign funds maintained.

MAPE ratified a new two year contract with the state of MN.

GOP Rep. Kurt Zellers and GOP Rep. Randy Demmer are seeking to become GOP House Minority Leader. The vote is this evening.

A family sues the Metro Gang Strike Force.]

Gas efficient driving will be on display today.

D.C.

President Obama will hold a news conference today at 11:30 AM. You can listen to it live on MPR.

President Obama announced a deal with drug companies.

He also signed a sweeping anti-smoking bill.

Justices exempt a Texas district from the voting rights act.

Smart Politics wonders whether Minnesota's congressional delegation is voting more conservatively.

A ten year old health advocate takes his message to Washington.

The Climate Change bill is headed to the House floor for a vote.

The Hill says there's no chance DFL Rep. Collin Peterson loses his chairmanship.

Lobbyists back DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar's highway bill.

2010

GOP state Rep. Tom Emmer considers a run for governor.

Check how the Taxpayers League of Minnesota rank the gubernatorial hopefuls.

2012

Gov. Pawlenty is hitting the road over the next few months.

2008 Race for U.S. Senate

MSNBC takes a look at the race by the numbers.

Finally

Styx visits the White House.

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NRSC goes all-in

Posted at 1:05 PM on June 23, 2009 by Tom Scheck (4 Comments)

AP says the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee has spent nearly $1 million in the last month alone to help Republican Norm Coleman's court challenge:

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - The fundraising committee for Senate Republicans has invested heavily in Norm Coleman's ongoing battle in Minnesota, including about $938,000 last month alone.

A new campaign report from the National Republican Senatorial Committee shows it paid almost $600,000 in legal bills for the former senator and gave home-state Republicans $300,000 toward the effort.

Coleman is awaiting word from Minnesota's Supreme Court on whether Democrat Al Franken's 312-vote lead will stand. The race has languished nearly eight months beyond Election Day.

The NRSC raised about $250,000 in May toward the Minnesota recount, mostly in $30,000 checks.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee didn't itemize its Minnesota-related expenses. That committee reported raising $282,000 in contributions earmarked for the recount.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-06-23-09 1257EDT

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Zellers elected GOP House Minority Leader

Posted at 10:49 PM on June 23, 2009 by Tom Scheck (0 Comments)

Republicans in the Minnesota House elected Kurt Zellers of Maple Grove as their new Minority Leader. Zellers defeated Randy Demmer of Hayfield for the slot after four rounds of balloting. He's replacing Marty Seifert, who decided to step down to devote more time to run for governor.

Zellers said he intends to start raising money and recruiting candidates for the 2010 election. He said it's critical to act soon since every member of the Legislature and four constitutional offices are on the ballot.

"It's going to be a very, very competitive market and quite honestly, the next three months are when I'll be working the hardest because that's when a lot of these folks are maybe going to decide not to get in or get in," Zellers said.

Zellers added that House Republicans will "stick to the basics" like limited government and low taxes.

Zellers faces a tall task if he hopes Republicans can retake the House in 2010. DFLers currently hold 87 seats out of the 134 seat chamber but Zellers said his caucus will stick together to protect Governor Pawlenty's vetoes.

DFL House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher released a statement congratulating Zellers and said she hoped the two can meet on a weekly basis when the 2010 session begins.

Zellers spoke with reporters after he was elected to the post. You can listen to that gaggle here:

Listen

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