Capitol View

Capitol View: March 19, 2010 Archive

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GOP Faceoff

Posted at 12:06 AM on March 19, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

Republicans Tom Emmer and Marty Seifert squared off in a nearly two hour debate on Thursday night. The candidates discussed a wide range of issues including the state budget, state's rights and electability. The moderator, Bill Butler, had his moments but overall it was a pretty solid debate.

You can listen to the full debate, which was sponsored by the Senate District 45 GOP, here: Listen

The Daily Digest

Posted at 7:35 AM on March 19, 2010 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

The Minnesota Senate passed a bill that pares down the General Assistance Medical Care program. The House is expected to take action on the bill next week. AP and the Pi Press have stories.

A move to debate the federal health care bill fails in the Minnesota Senate.

Gov. Pawlenty will tour the Moorhead flood area today.

DFL Sen. Steve Murphy apologizes after veterans fight back over his criticism of license plate funds diverted to the governor's office. Murphy and others were critical that money from the plate fund paid for a staffer in the governor's office. MPR, the Star Tribune, Forum Communications and the Pi Press have stories.

The House and Senate will vote next week on bills that cut government spending.

Minnesota's job market was stuck in neutral in February.

The U of M makes another play to sell alcohol in premium seating at sporting events.

Police leaders oppose a bill that would ban gang databases.

Congress

The House has scheduled debate on the health care overhaul vote for Sunday. 1pm EST to be exact.

The CBO scores the bill at $940 billion over 10 years.

President Obama postpones his Asia trip to focus on health care.

Supporters of the bill say it will help Minnesota. Gov. Pawlenty, however, is lobbying Congress to defeat the measure. He wrote a letter urging them against voting for it.

An aide to DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar says Oberstar is not 100% a yes on the bill.

DFL Rep. Tim Walz says he's inclined to vote for the bill.

Democrats say the health bill will pay for itself over the long run.

President Obama signed the jobs bill.

The NTSB faults the NWA pilots for the overflight over the Twin Cities.

2010 Race for Governor

Republicans Tom Emmer and Marty Seifert traded blows in a head to head debate last night in Plymouth. MPR, the Star Tribune and AP have stories.

Here's the full audio of the debate.

Right before the debate started, Seifert released a budget balancing plan.

GOP state Rep. Laura Brod's endorsing convention is delayed - prompting more running mate speculation for her.

2010 Other

A Minnesota Tea Party group opposes a retention plan for judges. The Pi Press and MPR have stories.

Pawlenty for Prez Watch

Gov. Pawlenty released his NCAA bracket. Here are the politics behind his picks.

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Kelliher may wait on running mate

Posted at 12:03 PM on March 19, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

Democrat Margaret Anderson Kelliher, who's running for governor, told me today that she hasn't made a decision on picking a running mate. Kelliher also said she isn't sure if she'll make her pick before the April 24th DFL endorsing convention.

One person who is taking his name out of the running is DFL House Majority Leader Tony Sertich. Sertich said he will be in the Minnesota House (if reelected) next year. When asked earlier this week if he would decline an offer if a candidate for governor asked him to be on a gubernatorial ticket, he said "right."

The only candidate for governor who announced a running mate is Republican Marty Seifert. He added Anoka County Commissioner Rhonda Sivarajah to his ticket.

Bachmann closer to the conservative talk show trifecta for the week

Posted at 1:21 PM on March 19, 2010 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: U.S. House, U.S. House, U.S. Senate

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann is making a full court press in her opposition to the federal health care overhaul bill. Last night, Bachmann appeared on Fox's Hannity to discuss the bill. Her office says she'll appear on Fox's Glenn Beck (4pm Central) later today.

Paging Rush Limbaugh!

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Lions laying down with lambs?

Posted at 2:23 PM on March 19, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature

Every once in a while pigs actually do fly and Hell does freeze over. On Thursday, it happened when a lawmaker who has constantly pushed for stricter gun control laws actually agreed with a member of the National Rifle Association.

DFL Rep. Michael Paymar of St. Paul, who pushed to close the gun show loophole. appeared before the House Public Safety Policy and Oversight Committee to push a bill that would include pets in court orders designed to protect a person from harm (AP has a story on the bill here).

Paymar said the bill would give battered women an extra incentive to leave a dangerous relationship.

"If you go to any battered women's shelter and talk with people who advocate for battered women," Paymar said. "They will tell you story after story of women, primarily, who stayed in abusive relationships way too long because the threat of losing their pet which to them is much like losing their child."

Paymar won the support of one individual how typically lines up to speak against his legislation. Hamline Law Professor Joe Olson, who is also the president of the Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance, testified in support of the bill.

"I think it's a fine bill," Olson told the committee.

After Olson made the comments, Paymar and Olson shook hands as the audience laughed.

"This is going to be a new one," Paymar quipped.

DFL Rep. Debra Hilstrom of Brooklyn Center joked that someone needed to get a picture of the two shaking hands (There is no video of the event but there is audio which you can find here).

"When the lion lays down with the lamb, I'm going to be all for this bill," GOP Rep. Paul Kohls of Victoria said.

The bill now moves to the House floor for a full vote.

For your viewing pleasure...

Posted at 4:35 PM on March 19, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: U.S. House, U.S. House, U.S. Senate

Here's a look at this weekend's public policy shows...

TPT's Almanac:
Kris Eide (State of Minnesota) and Rick Larkin (St. Paul) provide a flooding update... we preview Sunday's House health care vote with Political Scientists Larry Jacobs, Steve Schier, Kathryn Pearson and Guy Charles... and we present some fascinating --and disturbing-- history about the Ku Klux Klan's hold on America (and
Minnesota) in the 1920s.

KSTP's At Issue:
Harvey Mackay talking about the job market and his new book "Using your head to get your foot in the door: Job search secrets no one else will tell you." We also review the week's events at the Capitol and in Congress with our political panelists.

WCCO Sunday Morning:
Former Gov. Jesse Ventura to talk about his new book. Michael Schommer, Communications Director with Minnesota Department of Agriculture to talk about the Ash Borer infestation.

Capitol Report:
Two big bills that relied on negotiations with the Governor's office are detailed in this week's Capitol Report. Sen. Keith Langseth (DFL-Glyndon) gives his impression on the final bonding bill. Rep. Erin Murphy (DFL-St. Paul) provides insight on the final General Assistance Medical Care bill, and the negotiations that went into crafting the final product. Sen. Dennis Fredrickson (R-New Ulm) discusses with Julie Bartkey his view of the bonding bill and a bill that provides $26M for environmental projects in the state.

On the national scene...

FACE THE NATION - Topic: "Do Democrats Have the Votes to Pass Health Care?" Guests: House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn; Rep. Chris Van Hollen, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee; Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell; Assistant Senate Majority Leader Richard Durbin.

STATE OF THE UNION WITH CANDY CROWLEY - Topic: Health Care. Guests: Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah); Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.). Topic: Health Care. Guests: Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.); Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.). Topics: Health Care; 2010 Midterm Outlook. Guests: Donna Brazile, Democratic strategist; CNN political contributor; William Bennett, CNN political contributor; author, "A Century Turns."

FOX NEWS SUNDAY - Topic: Health care vote. Guests: Rep. Paul Ryan, (R-Wis.), ranking member, House Budget Committee; Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, (D-Fla.), Chief Deputy Whip; Sen. John Cornyn, (R-Texas), Chairman, National Republican Senatorial Committee.

MEET THE PRESS - Topic: Health care reform vote. Guest: Rep. John Boehner, House Republican Leader; Rep. Steny Hoyer, House Democratic Leader; former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, Chairman, Democratic National Committee; Michael Steele, Chairman, Republican National Committee; Anita Dunn, former Obama White House Communications Director; Ed Gillespie Chairman, Republican State Leadership Committee founder, Resurgent Republic former chairman, Republican National Committee and former Counselor to President George W. Bush.

THIS WEEK - President Obama's political strategist David Plouffe and former President George W. Bush's political strategist Karl Rove. Former Senators Trent Lott and Tom Daschle are also on the show.

Top spenders at the Minnesota Legislature in 2009

Posted at 4:56 PM on March 19, 2010 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature

The Minnesota Campaign Finance Board released its report of spending at the Minnesota Legislature in 2009.

The report shows that the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce continues to be the top spending at the State Capitol. The business advocacy group spent $1.8 million on lobbying in 2009.

Education Minnesota, the state's teacher's union, spent $1.38 million on lobbying in 2009. That's double what the union spent in 2008.

Three energy firms, Xcel Energy ($980,000), Flint Hills Resources ($920,000) and Center Point Energy ($860,000) rounded out the top five with the Minnesota Business Partnership ($860,000).

Here are the top ten spenders:

1) MN Chamber of Commerce $1,800,000
2) Education MN $1,380,000
3) Xcel Energy Services Inc $980,000
4) Flint Hills Resources LP $920,000
5) CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp d/b/a CenterPoint Energy MN Gas $860,000
5) MN Business Partnership Inc $860,000
7) Minneapolis Radiation Oncology Physicians $680,000
8) League of MN Cities $625,619
9) MN School Boards Assn $620,000
10) MN Auto Dealers Assn$452,000

You can read the full report here.

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