Capitol View: June 25, 2010 Archive

Uldrich has plans for running mate

Posted at 11:50 AM on June 25, 2010 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

Independence Party gubernatorial candidate John Uldrich says his running mate Steve Williams would have his choice of commissioner jobs.

During a news conference today to introduce Williams, Uldrich said he would follow Gov. Tim Pawlenty's experiment of appointing Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau to also lead the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The Minnesota Senate later rejected Molnau's confirmation as commissioner.

"We have to think in terms of how are we going to get the most value out the lieutenant governor," Uldrich said.

Uldrich is running in the Aug. 10 primary against Rob Hahn and Tom Horner, the Independence Party's endorsed candidate.

Williams is a farmer from Austin and a former IP candidate for U.S. Senate.

Pelosi coming to Minnesota

Posted at 12:57 PM on June 25, 2010 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: U.S. House, U.S. House, U.S. Senate

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will be in Minnesota on Saturday to tour of the St. Paul Union Depot. She'll tour the area with DFL Reps. Betty McCollum, Keith Ellison and Jim Oberstar. The project was funded by $35 million in federal stimulus money.

A news release sent by McCollum's office says the Union Depot will service Amtrak, local and interstate buses (2012), and the Central Corridor (2014). This project will also accommodate future intercity, commuter, and high speed rail services to Chicago.

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Otto picked to be on State Auditors Assoc. exec committee

Posted at 1:00 PM on June 25, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010

Minnesota State Auditor Rebecca Otto, a Democrat, has been elected to the Executive Committee of the National State Auditors Association. A news release put out by Otto's campaign says the election puts her on a "4-year track to the presidency" of the organization.

But she'll have to win reelection first. Otto is running against Republican Pat Anderson, a former State Auditor between 2003 and 2007. Otto defeated Anderson in 2006.

OutFront Minnesota backs Kelliher

Posted at 1:05 PM on June 25, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

OutFront Minnesota, an organization working for equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) people and their families, has endorsed Margaret Anderson Kelliher as its preferred candidate for governor.

"Margaret Anderson Kelliher has been a strong advocate for equality for our community, and will continue to be once she is elected governor," says OutFront Minnesota Executive Director Amy Johnson in a news release. "Margaret brings to the table a strong combination of vision, experience, and commitment to making Minnesota stronger, and she views her efforts to achieve GLBT equality, including marriage equality, as an inherent part of that effort. OutFront Minnesota Action is proud to endorse Margaret Anderson Kelliher for governor."

The group says it interviewed Kelliher, former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton (D), former legislator Matt Entenza (D) and Independence Party candidate Tom Horner. The organization said Republican Tom Emmer declined to be screened.

For your viewing pleasure...

Posted at 4:27 PM on June 25, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor, U.S. House, U.S. Senate

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

TPT's Almamac:
This week on Almanac U. S. Senator Al Franken talks about next week's confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan; GOP Lt Governor candidate Annette Meeks give us her take on the office she is seeking and Mary Lahammer's Campaign Notebook returns with a look at which Gubernatorial candidates plan to release their tax returns.

WCCO Sunday Morning with Esme Murphy:
Sen. Al Franken
DFL Candidate for Governor Matt Entenza
IP Candidate for Governor Rob Hahn

KSTP's At Issue:
They didn't get back to me.

Capitol Report:
It's been nearly a month since changes to the health care program for the state's poorest took effect. Moderator Julie Bartkey discusses the changes, the impacts, and the Governor's recent decision not to allow for early Medicaid enrollment with Human Services Commissioner Cal Ludeman, Rep. Paul Thissen (DFL-Minneapolis), and Rep. Matt Dean (R-Dellwood). The nations first Hmong-American legislator, Sen. Mee Moua (DFL-St. Paul) explains why she chose to retire, and looks back at her 9 year political career.

ABC's This Week:
Topic: Afghanistan, terrorism, Iran, North Korea, cyber warfare. Guest: Leon Panetta, CIA Director.

CBS' Face the Nation:
Topics: Kagan confirmation hearings, future of Afghanistan. Guests: Sens. Partick Leahy, D-Vt. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., Carl Levin, D-Mich.

CNN's State of the Union:
Topic: Political State of the Union. Guests: Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, NRSC chairman; Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., DSCC.

Fox News Sunday:
Topic: The change of command in Afghanistan and its implications for U.S. military strategy. Guests: Sens. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

NBC's Meet the Press:
Topics: The war in Aghanistan, the upcoming midterm elections and the future of the GOP. Guests: Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.; Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif.; Sebastian Junger, author, "WAR"; Wes Moore, author, "The Other Wes Moore", U.S. Army Captain (Ret.); Tom Ricks, contributing editor, Foreign Policy magazine and author, "The Gamble: General David Petraeus and the American Military Adventure in Iraq, 2006-2008," senior fellow, Center for a New American Security; Gen. Barry McCaffrey (Ret.), former commander-in-chief, U.S. Southern Command, NBC military analyst.