Polinaut: June 24, 2009 Archive

The Daily Digest: 6-24-09

Posted at 7:19 AM on June 24, 2009 by Tom Scheck (0 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

Gov. Pawlenty's K12 shift means schools need to borrow. Charter schools are especially worried.

Party leaders say they're seeing a wave of donations after Pawlenty proposes to eliminate the Political Contribution Refund.

City leaders will come together this week as they prepare for budget cuts.

House Republicans elected Kurt Zellers, of Maple Grove, as the new GOP Minority Leader of the Minnesota House. MPR, the Pi Press and the Star Tribune have stories.

Lawmakers propose ecodriving to save money.

D.C.

President Obama presses his agenda at a news conference.

He also said it's likely that the unemployment rate will hit double digits.

Congress is largely ignoring President Obama's budget cuts.

Democrats cut a deal on the climate change bill. DFL Rep. Collin Peterson is mentioned.

The Senate is trying to avert a similar blowup. DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar is mentioned.

DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar's transportation bill starts its legislative journey.

DFL Rep. Tim Walz introduces transit legislation.

Minnesota is close to losing a congressional seat.

Federal prosecutors seek Medtronic documents over a bone growth study suspected of fraud.

2008 Race for U.S. Senate

The NRSC spent nearly $1 million in the last month to help Republican Norm Coleman's legal battle.

The head of the NRSC also said he'll support Coleman is he appeals on the federal level.

KSTP is requesting to review the rejected absentee ballots.

The Pi Press says most Senate staffers have left their positions as the court battle continues on.

The Nevis Fourth of July parade will feature a "pork barrel race" with pigs named after Coleman and Democrat Al Franken.

2010

DFL state Sen. John Marty sits down for an interview with Minnesota Brown.

The Democratic Governors Association says Minnesota is a possible pickup state.

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GOP legislator wants U of M regents to rethink beer ban

Posted at 2:04 PM on June 24, 2009 by Tim Pugmire (0 Comments)

Following today's 10-2 vote by University of Minnesota regents to ban alcohol in the new on-campus football stadium, a Republican legislator said he'll try to reverse the move next year. Here's the news release from Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington:

ST PAUL - In response to the University of Minnesota's Board of Regents decision to ban alcohol sales at its new on-campus football stadium, State Representative Pat Garofalo (R-Farmington) will introduce legislation in 2010 that may encourage University officials to rethink their beer ban.

"Those of legal drinking age don't need the University to act as their parents," Garofalo said. "The University had no problem trusting the taxpayers to pay for a new stadium; they should be able to trust those same citizens to have a beer at a football game."

Garofalo's bill would create a new scholarship program for disabled veterans. Funding would come from one of two sources: Profits from alcohol sales at the new TCF Bank Stadium, or reductions in the University's administrative budget. Garofalo estimates that such sales would easily fund a scholarship account in the "hundreds of thousands of dollars" annually.

Last session, the Legislature passed a law allowing alcohol to be sold to adults throughout the new Gopher football stadium, regardless of their seat location. Previously, the University decided to only allow alcohol to be served in luxury suites and premium seats.

Garofalo said he is confident that House committee chairs will give his bill a fair hearing.

"In a time of tight budgets, this seems like a common sense way to help those who have served our country fund their college education,"
Garofalo said. "Plus, it gives the University the chance to stop acting like a bunch of fuddy-duddies."

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