Polinaut: July 17, 2009 Archive

Daily Digest

Posted at 6:28 AM on July 17, 2009 by Tim Pugmire (0 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

Minnesota's jobless rate has risen to 8.4 percent. MPR, Star Tribune and the Pioneer Press have stories.

State officials say traffic deaths are down.

Legal challenges to unallotment are still at the talking stage.

A state panel will meet in Bemidji next month to discuss public employee pension plans.

DC

Congressman Keith Ellison unveils a green jobs initiative.

Congressman Erik Paulsen is down on the federal stimulus.

Congressman Collin Peterson is skeptical of a food-safety bill.

2010

Republicans are launching an early effort to unseat Secretary of State Mark Ritchie.

State Sen. David Hann, R-Eden Prairie, has formally launched his campaign for governor.

State Rep. Paul Thissen, DFL-Minneapolis, lists RFK and "The Boss" among his influences.

State Rep. Paul Kohls, R-Victoria, is predicting an expensive contest for governor.

Former House Speaker Steve Sviggum has hit an unexpected roadblock.

2012

News Cut looks at where Gov. Pawlenty stands among possible GOP candidates for president.

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Farmfest still a political magnet

Posted at 10:05 AM on July 17, 2009 by Tim Pugmire (0 Comments)

Even in a non-election year, most Minnesota political leaders are planning to make appearances next month at the annual Farmfest in Redwood County. The Mankato Free Press has a rundown of who'll be there.

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Hearing next week for Minnesota ambassador nominees

Posted at 11:26 AM on July 17, 2009 by Tim Pugmire (0 Comments)

The U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations will hold a hearing Wednesday on four ambassador nominations. Two Minnesotans are among the nominees.

President Barack Obama recently named Miguel Humberto Diaz, a professor of theology at Saint John's University and the College of Saint Benedict, as ambassador to the Vatican. He also picked Minneapolis lawyer Samuel Kaplan as ambassador to Morocco.

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State GOP will hold gubernatorial forum, straw poll in October

Posted at 12:36 PM on July 17, 2009 by Tim Pugmire (0 Comments)

Republican Party of Minnesota Chair Tony Sutton announced today that a state convention will be held October 3, 2009, at the St. Paul RiverCentre. The event will include a straw poll of GOP gubernatorial candidates. In addition, Sutton said the party will host a GOP gubernatorial candidate forum the night before. The forum is scheduled October 2 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown St. Paul.

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For your viewing pleasure

Posted at 4:28 PM on July 17, 2009 by Tim Pugmire (0 Comments)

Friday

TPT Almanac - Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek talks about his decision to withdraw from the Metro Gang Strike Force, and the political panel helps update the scorecard of who's in and who's out of the Governor's race.

Sunday

CBS FACE THE NATION - Topics: Health care, Republican politics, with Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., and RNC Chairman Michael Steele.

CNN STATE OF THE UNION WITH JOHN KING - Topics: Health care debate, economy, with Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag; Sotomayor hearings, CIA, with Sens. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Jeff Sessions, R-Ala.; state of blacks in America, with Rev. Jesse Jackson.

FOX NEWS SUNDAY - Topics: Health Care reform, with White House Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag and Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H.; 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, with astronaut Buzz Aldrin.

NBC MEET THE PRESS - Topic: Health Care Reform and the Obama Administration. Guest: Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Topic: Health Care Reform; Sotomayor Confirmation Hearings; and the Republican Agenda. Guest:Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Senate Republican Leader.

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