Polinaut: July 23, 2009 Archive

Daily Digest

Posted at 7:05 AM on July 23, 2009 by Tim Pugmire (0 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

Minnesota is seeing stimulus money at work.

Stimulus money will help link a bike trail to the new Twins ballpark.

MnSCU board approves a budget that includes tuition increases and layoffs.

Panel named to study state aid to local governments.

DC

Politico takes note of the entire Minnesota delegation sending a letter to President Obama about Medicare reimbursement rates.

State GOP leaders want an investigation of Congressman Keith Ellison's trip to Mecca.

Sen. Al Franken has introduced his first bill.

Congressman Jim Oberstar's highway bill gives a boost to bike enthusiasts.

2010

The Fargo Forum sees a wide open race for Minnesota governor.

DFLer Matt Entenza says he wants Minnesota to lead again in education, health care and job creation.

Republican state Sen. David Hann says he wants to improve public education.

State Rep. Paul Thissen will formally launch his campaign today.

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DFL gubernatorial scorecard: Thissen announces, Rukavina files

Posted at 2:52 PM on July 23, 2009 by Tim Pugmire (0 Comments)

State Rep. Paul Thissen, DFL Minneapolis, has formally launched his campaign for governor in a still growing field of candidates.

Thissen has been campaigning for months, and filed his campaign finance paperwork back in November. Still, the four-term legislator stood in his yard today with family and friends to make an official announcement. Thissen said he wants to take the state in a new direction.

"The conventional wisdom politics, the old tired ways, the ways of distrust and divisiveness and personality conflicts, they won't serve us any longer," Thissen said. "We need a Minnesota leader who is going to stand up and again say yes to the promise of this state."

State Republican Party officials sent out a new release describing Thissen as a "big city liberal." They said his candidacy means the race to the far left is officially underway.

Earlier this week, Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL-Virginia, quietly filed his paperwork with the state to also make a run for governor. But a Campaign Finance Board staffer said Rukavina's paperwork wasn't complete, and the filing won't be finalized until it is.

So far, the DFL list of candidates who've filed with the state are Tom Bakk, Mark Dayton, Matt Entenza, Susan Gaertner, Steve Kelley, John Marty , Ole Savior and Paul Thissen.

The Republican filers are Patricia Anderson, Leslie Davis, Tom Emmer, Bill Haas, David Hann, Philip Herwig, Paul Kohls and Marty Seifert.

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