Capitol View: November 17, 2009 Archive

7 GOP gov candidates to debate tonight

Posted at 6:48 AM on November 17, 2009 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

All of the GOP candidates for governor will debate the issues at an event at the College of St. Benedict. You can find the details here.

Hackett gets in the race

Posted at 11:05 AM on November 17, 2009 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: U.S. House

Maureen Hackett, a DFLer, has announced that she's running for Congress in Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District. Hackett said she got in the race because she doesn't think first-term Republican Erik Paulsen fits the district.

On the issues, Hackett said her top concern is the economy. She said she would support some sort of second stimulus bill. Hackett also said she would have voted for the health care overhaul bill that the House recently passed.

Hackett said she would abide by the DFL Party endorsement, and she has been a frequent contributor to DFL candidates. But Hackett has also donated money to independents and Republicans. Specifically, she gave to the NRCC, Independence Party candidate Dave Dillon (who ran for Congress in 2008) and Ralph Nader. Hackett said she gave primarily to DFL candidates like DFL Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, President Obama and Ashwin Madia but also likes to "reward good ideas."

Hackett was, however, a bit murky about her donations to Ralph Nader. She said she gave to Nader in 2000 but had issues with the Florida recount.

When I noted that she gave to Nader after 2000, she said "he was paying off his debts" and "I like Ralph Naders' ideas." But it looks like he may have been contributing to his 2004 campaign.

You can listen to her entire interview here: Listen

Powers turns on congressional campaign in 2nd district

Posted at 11:18 AM on November 17, 2009 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: U.S. House

A roofing contractor from Burnsville says he wants to unseat Republican Congressman John Kline next year in Minnesota's 2nd district.

Dan Powers announced today that he will seek the DFL endorsement in 2010 to run against the incumbent, and he will abide by that decision. Powers considered a run against Kline in 2008, but dropped out early in the race to support Steve Sarvi. Kline is firmly opposed to budget earmarks for local projects. During a news conference, Powers said he'd take a different approach.

"First thing is I'd redefine it," Powers said. "An earmark is just an appropriation. And I think he's being very disingenuous in not representing his district by not doing everything he can. That's the straight forward part to it. He's not listening to the people in his district. He's not paying attention to their needs."

Kline spokesman Troy Young said with a year before the next election, the congressman remains focused on efforts to create jobs and reform health care.

Here's the audio from Powers' news conference: Listen

Poll shows Obama leading Pawlenty in Minnesota

Posted at 1:24 PM on November 17, 2009 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Tim Pawlenty

A new St. Cloud State University poll says those polled say they would support President Obama over Governor Pawlenty in a head to head matchup. When asked "If the 2012 presidential election was held today with Barack Obama being the Democratic candidate and Tim Pawlenty being the Republican candidate, would you vote for Obama or Pawlenty?"

50 percent of those polled say they would support Obama. 39.7 percent back Pawlenty.

Right track/Wrong track
43 percent of those polled say the state is on the right track. 44 percent say the state is on the wrong track.

Top Issue facing the state of Minnesota
Health care 19%
Budget 14%
Education 13%
Unemployment 13%
Taxes at 10%

Job Approval
50.3 percent of those polled rate President Obama's job approval as excellent or pretty good while 47.4 percent rate Obama's job approval as only fair or poor.

48.5 percent of those polled rate Gov. Pawlenty's job approval as excellent or pretty good while 48.4 percent rate Pawlenty's job approval as only fair or poor.

Party breakdown
36% of those polled self identify as Democrats
26% of those polled self identify as Republicans
11% of those polled self identify as not belonging to any party..

You can read the entire poll here.

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Rybak hires Tina Smith to manage his campaign.

Posted at 1:45 PM on November 17, 2009 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak has hired his chief of staff, Tina Smith, to manage his campaign for governor. Jeremy Hanson, who currently serves as Rybak's communications director, will become chief of staff. John Stiles, who recently managed St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman's reelection campaign, will become Rybak's spokesman in the mayor's office.

Smith was a senior adviser to President Obama's Minnesota campaign in 2008 and served as VP of external affairs at Planned Parenthood of Minnesota before she was hired as Rybak's Chief of Staff. She also ran Walter Mondale's 2002 U.S. Senate campaign and Ted Mondale's 1998 campaign for governor.

Update: Smith sent out an e-mail to supporters giving more detail of the campaign hires:

I also want to say a word about the team coming into place for the Governor's race. Julie Hottinger will serve as Deputy Campaign Manager, with responsibility for overall campaign operations.

Julie's depth of campaign experience, from field to finance, as well as her knowledge of statewide politics, is terrific. Our finance team is lead by the effective, smart Dinah Dale, who comes to us most recently from the Franken Campaign. Our Field Director is Alex Falconner, who most recently headed up the Minneapolis Coordinated Campaign and also brings great experience and energy. His team is already working to organize for the caucuses.

Paulsen tries to end TARP funding

Posted at 4:43 PM on November 17, 2009 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: U.S. House

GOP Rep. Erik Paulsen was unsuccessful in his attempts to end federal funding for the Troubled Asset Relief Program. In committee, Paulsen proposed an amendment that would end bailout spending through TARP by the end of 2009. The measure was defeated 37 to 30. Reuters says there is $210 billion remaining in the TARP fund.

Here's part of the release:

"Taxpayers are tired of the revolving door of bailouts and deficit spending in Washington," Paulsen said. "The inspector general overseeing the TARP program recently said it will 'almost certainly' result in a loss for taxpayers, and yet it is likely the program will extend well into next year. TARP funding is simply becoming walking-around money for the government, and today my colleagues missed an important opportunity to bring this program to a close."

Under the legislation Congress approved in the fall of 2008, the Troubled Asset Relief Program is set to expire on December 31st of this year. However, the legislation also grants the Administration the right to extend the program until October of 2010, which can be triggered by the Secretary of the Treasury sending a notification letter to Congress. Paulsen's amendment would have removed the trigger for extending TARP, officially ending the program on December 31st, 2009, and committed the remaining TARP funds to reducing the national debt.

Paulsen also announced he intends to soon introduce stand-alone legislation in the House that will mirror this amendment. Senator John Thune (R-SD) has offered a similar measure in the Senate.

GOP candidates for governor debate in St. Paul.

Posted at 5:48 PM on November 17, 2009 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

The Minnesota Government Relations Council held a GOP governor candidates forum this afternoon. The forty minute forum focused on government spending, taxes and the economy.

State Rep. Tom Emmer of Delano, state Sen. David Hann of Eden Prairie, former State Auditor Pat Anderson, former state rep. Bill Haas and state Rep. Marty Seifert of Marshall took part in a fifty minute forum. They discussed government spending (all say greater cuts can occur), taxes (all oppose increasing revenue but at least one - Anderson - favors raising some taxes broadening the sales tax while cutting others) and the economy (they say cutting government regulation will foster a better business climate).

The newsiest part of the forum occurred when moderator Sarah Strong asked if any of the candidates would sign a "No Tax increase pledge." All declined saying the public knows that they oppose tax increases.

You can have a listen to the forum here (note: the candidates don't identify themselves so here's the order during the first appearance: Pat Anderson, Bill Haas, David Hann, Marty Seifert, Tom Emmer):

Listen

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