Capitol View: February 8, 2010 Archive
The Daily Digest
Posted at 7:04 AM on February 8, 2010
by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest
The state's rate of the uninsured climbed nearly 27 percent between 2007 and 2009. AP and MPR have stories.
Gov. Pawlenty threatens to veto a bill that would limit his unallotment authority.
The bill is getting fine-tuned.
Pawlenty also has until Tuesday to submit his appeal brief to the Minnesota Supreme Court.
There's a bipartisan support to move the state's primary date to August.
Here are the key dates to watch if the primary is changed to August.
The Department of Public Safety orders Xcel Energy to fix its gas lines or face a $1 million fine.
The Pi Press says many plumbers didn't even know of the problem.
Pawlenty predicts that he'll reach a deal with lawmakers on the bonding bill.
Gorillas in the missed? The Star Tribune says a lawmaker pushed to successfully remove references to polar bears and gorillas from the bonding bill request.
The Pi Press looks at the push to ban some chemicals in children's products.
Two counties want the state to stop shifting costs.
St. Paul resolves a HUD investigation.
Plans are going forward on a Minneapolis planetarium even though the governor wants to cancel the bonding request.
E85 usage increased 25 percent in Minnesota state government.
DFL Rep. John Lesch, who is in basic training, is expected to be back in Minnesota soon.
Congress
President Obama says he's not giving up on the health care overhaul bill.
He will also hold a bipartisan health care reform meeting this month.
The House is set to vote this week on a bill the removes the anti-trust exemption for health insurance companies.
Gallup takes a look at President Obama's approval in every state in the nation. Obama's approval in Minnesota is 62%. Party id favors Democrats though.
President Obama also sat down with CBS News before the start of the Super Bowl.
White House counterterrorism chief John Brennan told Meet the Press that he briefed GOP congressional leaders about the arrest of the Christmas bomber.
The Star Tribune reports that 3M met privately with EPA officials about 3M's Scotchguard. EPA officials will start considering new safety guidelines for drinking water.
DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar is making the push to ease international adoptions.
DFL Sen. Al Franken goes after the CEO of Comcast.
Franken also spoke at the Hibbing Chamber dinner and talked job creation in Duluth.
GOP Rep. John Kline says President Obama's economic policies aren't working.
GOP Rep. Erik Paulsen holds a jobs fair today.
DFL Rep. Keith Ellison will speak at Carleton College.
DFL Rep. Collin Peterson is working to stop the EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions.
2010 Race for Governor
Democrats R.T. Rybak and Margaret Anderson Kelliher are treating it like a two person race.
The plan for water fountains in Minneapolis gets pared back.
2010 Other
The MNGOP is still looking for an Attorney General candidate.
RNC Chair Michael Steele says one million dollars is not a lot of money.
President Obama rallied the party faithful.
DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar transferred $115,000 in campaign cash to the DSCC.
Pawlenty for Prez Watch
Gov. Pawlenty will speak in North Carolina this morning.
He was in Alabama on Friday speaking to GOP activists.
You can listen to Pawlenty's Alabama speech here.
Sarah Palin headlined the Tea Party Convention and said "America is ready for another revolution."
She also leaves open the possibility of a run in 2012.
Finally
Schakleton's scotch is retrieved from the South Pole.
Huckabee to visit Minnesota
Posted at 8:42 AM on February 8, 2010
by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Tim Pawlenty
Mike Huckabee, a possible contender for the White House in 2012, will visit Minnesota in April. Huckabee is scheduled to speak to a fundraiser for the Minnesota Family Council on April 26th. Tom Prichard, president of the Minnesota Family Council, said they invited Huckabee to speak because he upholds the values and the principles of the Family Council:
"We think it's important that Christian faith has implications for all of life. It's not just a private matter but principles that apply to all areas of life and we want to encourage people to be civically involved in their communities and in the broader community. We think he understands that... He's clearly been a champion of family issues and the pro-life cause and issues of that nature which are issues central to our work..."
Prichard said Huckabee will be given an honorarium but didn't specify a price-tag.
Huckabee, who won the Iowa caucuses in 2008, hasn't said if he'll make a run for the White House in 2012. Prichard said the invitation shouldn't be perceived as a slight to Governor Pawlenty, who has not ruled out a run for president himself.
In fact, Prichard said Pawlenty has given "greetings" to the Family Council's annual dinner in the past. He said it's possible that both Huckabee and Pawlenty could be in attendance for the dinner.
Prichard also said his organization doesn't endorse candidates for president.
Pawlenty tries to get creative.
Posted at 11:22 AM on February 8, 2010
by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Pawlenty travel, Tim Pawlenty
Gov. Pawlenty gave a speech to the 25th annual Emerging Issues Forum in Raleigh, NC this morning. His speech was standard fare for Pawlenty watchers. He stressed that schools and universities better start offering classes online.
He also talked about 2012 (not sure what he's going to do next), the Tea Party and creativity in general with reporters after the speech.
Mark Binker with the News and Record in North Carolina recorded the speech and the q and a. You can listen to both here.
On the stump...
Posted at 2:36 PM on February 8, 2010
by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor
Here's a look at where the candidates for governor will campaign this week...
Tom Bakk (DFL):
Tuesday, 2/9, Noon - Aitken County DFL Club, 40 Convention Center, Aitken
Wednesday, 2/10, 6:30 p.m. - CD 2 Meeting, Prior Lake City Hall, 4646 Dakota St. SE, Prior Lake
Friday, 2/12, 5 p.m. - Kanabec County DFL Fundraiser, Kanabec County History Center, 805 Forest Ave. W, Mora
Saturday, 2/13, 8:30 a.m. - Senate Dist. 49 Convention, Coon Rapids High School, 2340 Northdale Blvd. NW, Coon Rapids; 9:30 a.m. - Sherburne County DFL Convention, Pebble Creek Golf Course, 14000 Clubhouse Ln, Becker
Leslie Davis (GOP):
No public events scheduled.
Mark Dayton (DFL):
The campaign did not provide me with a campaign schedule.
Tom Emmer, (GOP):
Monday, 2/8, O air with Marty Owings KFAI - 6 - 6:30; Candidate on the couch - John Beacham in Maple Grove
Tuesday, 2/9 SD 42 meeting
Wednesday, 2/10Agrigrowth Council - Kelly Inn 12:00; Fundraiser in Eagan
Thursday, 2/11, LEA award banquet - honoring Tom and others
Friday, 2/12, Speak to Rough Riders 7:30am Minneapolis Club; Appearance on TPT's Almanac, 6:30pm
Matt Entenza (DFL):
Thursday, 2/11. Freedom to Marry Day event, 8:30am, Capitol Rotunda, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, St. Paul, MN; Itasca County Social Hour, 12pm, Itasca County DFL Office, 809 Northeast 4th Street, Grand Rapids, MN
Friday, 2/12, Kanabec County DFL Fundraiser, 6pm, Kanabec County History Center, 805 Forest Ave. W., Mora, MN 55051
Sunday, Big Stone County Convention, 2pm to 3pm CST
Susan Gaertner (DFL):
The campaign did not provide me with a campaign schedule.
Bill Haas (GOP):
The campaign did not provide me with a campaign schedule.
David Hann (GOP):
The campaign did not provide me with a campaign schedule.
Phil Herwig (GOP):
The campaign did not provide me with a campaign schedule.
Tom Horner (I-P):
The campaign did not provide me with a campaign schedule.
Margaret Anderson Kelliher (DFL):
The campaign did not provide me with a campaign schedule.
Monday, 2/8, 5:30 - 7pm, KFAI Radio Forum, Minneapolis
Thursday, 2/11 appearing on Women Count radio (national internet show) - 5:30pm
John Marty (DFL):
Monday, 2/8, 6-7pm KFAI Gubernatorial Forum; 7:30-9pm MEP Legislative Forum
Saturday, 2/13, 9:00am Sherburne County Convention; 9:00am SD/CU 49 Convention
10:00am SD/CU 35 Convention
Sunday, 2/14, 12:30pm Big Stone County Convention
Joe Repya (I-P):
The campaign did not provide me with a campaign schedule.
Tom Rukavina (DFL):
Monday, 2/8, 5:30 - 7pm, KFAI Radio Forum, Minneapolis
Friday, 2/12, 4:30-6:30: Coleraine NRRI Fundraiser, Coleraine (Locker Room Bar & Grill)
Saturday, 2/13. TOUR of CONVENTIONS: (4 in total) Details are on the Campaign Calendar. 9:00am: Coon Rapids, St. Peter, Becker; 10:00am: Prior Lake/Savage
Sunday, 2/14, 1:00pm: Big Stone Convention, Clinton MN
R.T. Rybak (DFL):
Wednesday, 2/10, Meet and Greet with SD 18, 7:00 PM, Daniel's Family Restaurant, 525 Cokato St. W., Cokato, MN 55321
Saturday, 2/13, Senate District 49 Convention, 9:00 AM - 4:00 AM, Coon Rapids High School, 2340 Northdale Blvd NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433; Senate District 35 Convention, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, Prior Lake High School, 7575 150Th St. W, Savage, MN 55378,
Sunday, 2/14, Big Stone County Convention, 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM, Memorial Hall, Clinton, MN
Marty Seifert (GOP):
The campaign did not provide me with a campaign schedule.
Paul Thissen (DFL):
Monday, 2/8 - 7pm, SD43 DFL meeting, 12601 Ridgedale Drive, Minnetonka
Wednesday, 2/10 - 6:30pm, CD2 DFL meeting, 4646 Dakota Street Southeast, Prior Lake
Thursday, 2/11 - 6:30pm, Steele County DFL meeting, Owatonna Public Library
Saturday, 2/13 - 9am, SD49 DFL Convention Coon Rapids High School, 2340 Northdale Blvd NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433; 9am, Sherburne County DFL Convention, T's Restaurant at Pebble Creek Golf Course, 14000 Club House Lane, Becker, MN 55308
Sunday, 2/14 - 12pm, Cokato, Meet and Greet, location TBD; 5pm, Moorhead Meet and Greet, Atomic Coffee, 16 4th Street South, oorhead, MN 56560
Teacher's union cancels PAC Board meeting
Posted at 2:41 PM on February 8, 2010
by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor
Today's Education Minnesota PAC meeting has been postponed due to the weather, meaning there will be no endorsement today from the union in the race for governor. (though even if there had been a meeting, there was no guarantee the PAC board would have necessarily made such a move). The PAC Board has not rescheduled the meeting yet.
KFAI hosts a gov debate tonight.
Posted at 2:44 PM on February 8, 2010
by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor
KFAI Radio is hosting a debate for governor tonight and it will feature eight candidates. Here's the info from KFAI's website:
Co-hosts Bob Hines and Marty Owings will moderate the first forum featuring DFLers Margaret Anderson Kelliher, John Marty and Tom Rukavina; Independents Rob Hahn and Tom Horner; and Republicans Tom Emmer, Bill Haas, and Marty Seifert.
KFAI News Director Ahndi Fridell says there will be three of these forums. The next one is scheduled for March 25th.
Stinson says unemployment likely to remain high
Posted at 2:49 PM on February 8, 2010
by Mike Mulcahy
Filed under: MN Legislature
State economist Tom Stinson was the guest on Midday today, and he provided a wealth of background information about the state's economic troubles and the actions government is taking to try to get out of them.
Among other things he expects a positive job growth in March because of hiring by the U.S. Census. But he says the national unemployment rate, and by extension the state unemployment rate, is likely to remain high for some time.
"The best guesses are that we're going to see the national unemployment rate go back up to more than 10 percent again and to stay at the 10 percent level more or less through the end of this year," he said. "That is a pretty discouraging and pretty dismal outlook, but the real concern is that it looks like it's not until even in 2012 we would have more than 8 percent."
Stinson said the Obama administration generally reacted well to the economic crisis and he said the federal economic stimulus is helping with employment. He said it's a bad idea for the federal government to raise taxes now, but he said it's a more difficult call at the state level.
"That's a little harder because if you increase taxes at the state level that costs jobs," he said. But if you don't increase them it costs jobs because you're going to have lay off people in state and local government as well, so that's a little trickier."
As for the next state revenue forecast due next month, Stinson told me he hadn't yet looked at the national economic forecast which he received today from Global Insight. But he said he expected the outlook to vary by plus or minus a couple hundred million dollars, which means lawmakers will still have to confront a serious financial problem.
"Anybody that thinks we're going to generate $1.2 billion in new revenue and solve the problem, they're dreaming," he said. "But anybody who's having nightmares we're going to give them $2.5 billion rather than $1.2 billion problem, they're probably going to be relieved that we're not going to be there."
Pawlenty buys some Alabama goodwill, but who paid for it?
Posted at 3:19 PM on February 8, 2010
by Tom Scheck
(5 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Pawlenty travel, Tim Pawlenty
On the same weekend that Sarah Palin was collecting a $100,000 appearance fee from the Tea Party Convention, Gov. Tim Pawlenty was the courier for a $100,000 check to the Alabama Republican Party.
On Friday, Pawlenty gave a 25 minute speech to Republican activists in Montgomery, AL. Before Pawlenty spoke to the group, Alabama GOP Chair Mike Hubbard announced that Pawlenty showed up at the speech bearing gifts. Hubbard told the audience of about 700 GOP activists that Pawlenty hand-delivered a $100,000 check from an unnamed donor.
"Gov. Pawlenty told him 'Well, I'm going to speak in Alabama and I know Gov. Bob Riley and I've heard with what they're doing in the Republican Party. I think they're going to make a a real difference. They have an opportunity to take the House and Senate for the first time in over 100 years and he urged him to support our efforts because he thought it was a great investment. So when Gov. Pawlenty came through the doors of the hotel today, he brought with him a check for $100,000. It's made to the Alabama Republican Party. So not only is Gov. Pawlenty not charging us, he's bringing money with him. He's our favorite speaker." Listen
Philip Bryan, a spokesman for the Alabama Republican Party said Pawlenty's check came from a donor, but he wouldn't disclose the individual's name. He said the funds were earmarked to help Republicans win the Alabama House and Senate and would comply with disclosure laws. Bryan then referred other questions to Pawlenty's spokesman. Pawlenty's spokesman referred me to the Alabama Republican Party.
It looks like the next filing deadline for campaign finance activity in Alabama is April 12th.
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