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Capitol View: November 11, 2009 Archive

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The Daily Digest

Posted at 6:42 AM on November 11, 2009 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest


It's Veterans Day. There will be services across the state to honor those who are serving or who have served.

President Obama remembers the Fort Hood victims.

Here's the text of his speech.

Marc Ambinder says it was Obama's best speech ever.

DFL Senators Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar and DFL Rep. Betty McCollum attended the Texas ceremony.

A poll says confidence in Obama slips.

Bill Clinton says he would tell Democrats to follow Olympia Snowe on health care.

MPR examines what the House bill would mean for Minnesota.

DFL Rep. Tim Walz discusses why he supported the health care bill.

The health bill pits Democrat vs. Democrat.

The health bill could impact the paper industry.

The Star Tribune says there's an all-out blitz from both sides on the health care issue.

A bill could guarantee sick leave due to H1N1.

Obama sits down with ABC News.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar wants to end a spike in early termination fees from cell phone companies.

DFL Sen. Al Franken has set up a college affordability roundtable in Moorhead on Thursday.

The I-694-I169 interchange proposal is now eligible to compete for federal funding. GOP Reps. John Kline and Erik Paulsen are mentioned.

The Daily Show mocks GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann.

DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar continues to push for a new transportation bill.

Under the Dome

Minnesota's tax collections are down 2.7 percent for October.

State Rep. Bernie Lieder is honored at Israel's Holocaust Museum.

The U of M gets $34 million in federal stimulus money.

St. Paul asks for state bonding money for the Saints.

Former Gov. Jesse Ventura visited the Capitol.

2010 Race for Governor

Discover Politics interviews Republican Par Anderson.

Republican David Hann sits down for a radio interview with David Strom.

2010 Race for Congress

Politico says keep an eye on Minnesota's 6th District.

CNN asks "Where is Michele Bachmann headed?" and doesn't answer the question.

DFL state Sen. Tarryl Clark assembles her campaign team.

Republican Allen Quist says he opposes health care changes. The Rochester Post-Bulletin and the Mankato Free Press have stories.

CQ picks up that DFLer Jim Meffert will challenge GOP Rep. Erik Paulsen.

Smart Politics says Wayzata gives the most per capita to Minnesota's delegation.

Pawlenty for Prez Watch

There are more details about Pawlenty's shoot and release of the deer.

County Attorney Races
Pete Orput, Assistant Hennepin County Attorney, announced today that he is running for Washington County Attorney.

Finally

Former GOP Sen. Norm Coleman says the Republican Party needs to accept moderates.

Dan Balz says Pawlenty has been "Romneyesque" in recent months

Posted at 9:55 AM on November 11, 2009 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Tim Pawlenty

Washington Post political reporter Dan Balz says Gov. Pawlenty has been a bit "Romneyesque" in recent months. In particular, Balz mentioned Pawlenty's endorsement in NY-23, his comments about Maine Senator Olympia Snowe and Pawlenty's criticicism of President Obama's school speech. Here's the story.

"This state is too small for him..."

Posted at 10:54 AM on November 11, 2009 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Tim Pawlenty

Those were the comments from Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, President of the National Council of Churches. He was made the tongue in cheek comments (Listen) about Gov. Pawlenty after Pawlenty addressed the 2009 General Assembly of The Churches of Christ in Minneapolis this morning. The comments may have caught the governor off guard since he sat down to hide himself when Aykazian was making the comments. Pawlenty hasn't ruled out a run for president in 2012.

You can listen to Pawlenty's full speech to the group here: Listen

By the way, a Minnesotan is set to take the helm of the National Council of Churches. Peg Chemberlin, with the Minnesota Council of Churches, will lead the organization over the next two years.

Did Bachmann break House rules?

Posted at 11:11 AM on November 11, 2009 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: U.S. House

Politico's Glenn Thrush posted an item wondering if GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann broke House Rules by promoting her rally on her official government site. Here's the story.

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What comes after Iowa?

Posted at 1:44 PM on November 11, 2009 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2008: U.S. MN CD3, Tim Pawlenty


Gov. Pawlenty has scheduled a December trip to New Hampshire. Political consultant Michael Dennehy, who was a senior adviser to John McCain in 2008, confirmed that Pawlenty will be the keynote speaker a fund-raiser for the Republican Senate Majority Committee on December 16th.

"His presence in New Hampshire will help support the State Senate Republican Party in their effort to retake the New Hampshire Senate," Dennehy said.

Dennehy said he wasn't aware of any other events scheduled. When asked if we should read anything into Pawlenty's visit to the critical presidential state Dennehy said "That's not for me to say."

The news was first reported by The Union Leader.

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Jungbauer calls it quits

Posted at 5:03 PM on November 11, 2009 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

AP is reporting that GOP state Sen. Michael Jungbauer is ending his race for governor:

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Republican state Sen. Mike Jungbauer (JUNG'-bow-er) is dropping out of the Minnesota governor's race after having trouble raising money.

Jungbauer's campaign released an e-mail announcing his decision on Wednesday.

Jungbauer says his supporters are struggling in a tough economy and haven't been able to support him financially to stay in the race. He also lagged the front runners in a straw poll at the Republican state convention last month.

Seven Republicans remain in the wide-open race.

Jungbauer says he now plans to run for re-election to his Minnesota Senate seat.

Update: Jungbauer's Facebook page has his announcement:

When I entered the governor's race in July, I believed that God had opened the door to a new opportunity and that I needed to respond. I believe I did that to the best of my ability, but it was my human pride that made that job winning the race. As is so often the case, God's plans aren't our plans and I now realize that the job that needed doing was to learn a lot, listen even more, encourage and even teach a bit.

These last few months have been a blast! I have been so blessed by people that believe in me, and truly believe that I would be an excellent choice for governor. Our campaign is truly supported by the working class that is struggling through these hard financial times; therefore we have not received the financial support necessary to carry on with the campaign.

It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing I will be dropping out of the governor's race today. I will be fully focusing on my senate duties, and my senate re-election in 2010 starting immediately.

Listening to citizen concerns from around the state will serve me well as I resume my work at the senate. I would like to thank everyone for their support and well wishes over the last couple of months as I went through the rabies treatments. I would also like to thank those that helped with the campaign.

Minnesota area Catholic Dioceses contributed to Maine ballot initiative.

Posted at 5:51 PM on November 11, 2009 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

The campaign finance report for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, Maine shows that four Minnesota area Catholic Dioceses contributed $6250 to a campaign to reject a law legalizing gay marriage in Maine. The ballot measure asked voters "Do you want to reject the new law that lets same-sex couples marry and allows individuals and religious groups to refuse to perform these marriages?"

The measure passed 53 percent to 47 percent in the November election. The Catholic Church considers homosexuality a sin and has worked actively to define marriage as between "one man and one woman" in states across the country.

The Diocese of Crookston donated $5,000 to the effort. The Diocese of Winona and the Diocese of La Crosse, WI gave $500 each. New Ulm's Bishop John Levoir gave $250.

Rose Hammes, spokeswoman for the Diocese of Winona, said the contribution was given because Winona Archbishop John Quinn felt it was important to help his colleagues in Maine:

"He made a contribution because they're in solidarity with all of the bishops in the country and I'm assuming that Bishop Quinn decided that that was important to be in solidarity with his brother bishops."

Hammes said the donation came from an account that is used to help efforts like the ballot initiative in Maine. She said the fund is from "private donations" not parishoner contributions.

I left messages with the Dioceses of Crookston and New Ulm but haven't heard back from them. A spokeswoman for New Ulm's Bishop just called me back and said "We have no comment."

Here's the campaign finance report.

For those wondering about tax violations, the IRS forbids tax exempt organizations from backing a political candidate but "can engage in a limited amount of lobbying (including ballot measures) and advocate for or against issues that are in the political arena. The IRS also has provided guidance regarding the difference between advocating for a candidate and advocating for legislation."

UPDATE:
No on 1 Protect Maine Equality, the group working to keep the gay marriage law on the books, reports that one person from Minnesota gave to the group. Rabih Nahas gave $50.

The Minneapolis based political consulting firm, Grassroots Solutions, however did receive $18,517.81 from the organization for consulting work.

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The feature examines statements made by Minnesota politicians and checks them for accuracy. Based on data analysis, document reviews and interviews with non-partisan analysts, statements are rated true, misleading, false or inconclusive. More

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