Capitol View

Capitol View: July 20, 2010 Archive

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The Daily Digest

Posted at 6:59 AM on July 20, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

The head of a charity aimed to help military veterans but instead spent thousands of dollars on political donors. The Pi Press says head of the charity has now disappeared and attorneys general across the country are now investigating the group. The group gave to GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann, the MNGOP and former U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman.

The story was originally reported by the St. Petersburg Times and the anti-Michele Bachmann blog, Dump Bachmann.

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann writes an explanation on why she created the Tea Party Caucus.

The Guardian calls Bachmann "the queen of the right."

The Mankato Free Press takes a look at where DFL Rep. Tim Walz and GOP challenger differ.

2010 Race for Governor

The three DFL candidates for governor will be on MPR's Midmorning at 9am.

A new ad funded by corporate money has now hit the airwaves. Some state lawmakers aren't happy that businesses are taking sides in the governor's race but officials with Target Corporation and MN Forward tell MPR that they support candidates who are looking to support a strong business environment.

Democrat Matt Entenza will be in Moorhead on Wednesday.

Fox 9 does q and a's with Democrats Mark Dayton, Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Matt Entenza and IP candidates Rob Hahn and Tom Horner.

Congress

The Washington Post releases an in-depth investigation into the nation's national security and intelligence system.

The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to vote on Elena Kagan's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. DFL Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken are expected to vote for her.

The Senate is set to vote to extend jobless benefits.

The vote comes one day after President Obama called on Congress to restore the benefits.

President Obama launches a policy to protect the nation's oceans.

The BP oil well that was recently capped is leaking again.

A Minnesota man says BP is using his idea to cap the oil spill.

DFL Sen. Al Franken and DFL Rep. Keith Ellison will hold a conference call today to say the nation will not recover all of its lost jobs until 2014 and promote a second stimulus bill.

The FAA reauthorization bill could be ready this week. DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar is mentioned.

Under the Dome

A report by State Auditor Rebecca Otto says law enforcement seizures are up 25 percent.

Minnesota joins four other states in suing the feds over Asian Carp.

Legislators hold a health care forum in Bemidji on Wednesday.

2010 Other

The MNGOP and State Auditor Rebecca Otto, a Democrat, battle over receipts.

Secretary of State Mark Ritchie is mum over a decision by his Republican opponent, Dan Severson, to use the nickname "Doc" on the ballot.

2012 Convention Watch

Democrats aren't talking about their site visit.

Pawlenty for Prez Watch

Gov. Pawlenty raised $32,500 from three people for his Iowa PAC.

Governor Pawlenty is expected to attend an education summit in New York in September.

The NRSC wants to know who Republicans like for president.

Sarah Palin creates a new word, refudiate, and then compares herself to Shakespeare.

DFL gov candidates on Midmorning

Posted at 9:04 AM on July 20, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

The three DFL candidates for governor, Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Mark Dayton and Matt Entenza, are on MPR's Midmorning this hour. Tune in on the radio or here.

MN NOW backing more than one candidate for governor

Posted at 10:38 AM on July 20, 2010 by Tom Scheck (3 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

The Minnesota Chapter of the National Organization for Women announced today that the group has endorsed a second candidate for governor. The group's PAC Board voted last night to endorse Democrat Margaret Anderson Kelliher. The PAC Board also decided over the weekend to back Democrat Matt Entenza. Minnesota NOW's PAC Board Chair Gordy Gustafson said the board reserves the right to endorse more than one candidate for office.

"An endorsement means that they are a strong supporter of women's rights and if we have multiple candidates in a race that meet that criteria, we will endorse multiple candidates."

Gustafson says the PAC Board also rated Democrat Mark Dayton but declined to offer specifics until the board notifies the campaign of the rating. Update: Gustafson says the group gave Democrat Mark Dayton a "C" rating for his positions on abortion and welfare reform.

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Klobuchar and Franken vote Kagan out of Judiciary Committee

Posted at 12:44 PM on July 20, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: U.S. House, U.S. Senate

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to approve the nomination of Elena Kagan for the U.S. Supreme Court.

Here's DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar's statement:

"I supported Solicitor General Kagan's nomination in the Judiciary Committee today because I believe she would bring a wide variety of legal experience to the bench - as a manager, as a teacher, as an advisor, as a consensus builder and as a lawyer. And in every job she has had, she has worked very hard and done very well. She has developed a reputation as a person who brings people together despite their ideological differences and has consistently demonstrated the fair approach to the facts and law that we want in a Supreme Court Justice. Having cleared this important hurdle today, I look forward to Solicitor General Kagan's nomination moving to the full Senate where we can have a healthy debate and a timely confirmation."

Here's DFL Sen. Al Franken's statement to the press (and his full statement here):

"I'm going to vote for General Kagan," said Sen. Franken. "Because I think that General Kagan understands the place of the Supreme Court, and its relationship to the executive, to the legislature, and to the American people."

Ad campaign hits Emmer on tips

Posted at 3:29 PM on July 20, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

The Alliance for a Better Minnesota released its second ad of the campaign. This time, the group is criticizing Republican Tom Emmer for his comments on the tip credit, minimum wage and restaurant workers. You can view the ad here.

ABM says they'll spend $300,000 on the ad campaign for the week.

It appears that the Alliance for a Better Minnesota and MN Forward are engaged in an arms race in this year's governor's race. The Alliance for a Better Minnesota is funded by unions, wealthy DFL donors and the Democratic Governor's Association. MN Forward is funded by Minnesota businesses.

Both groups are expected to spend as much as $10 million each on this year's election.

Kelliher releases budget plan

Posted at 3:25 PM on July 20, 2010 by Mike Mulcahy
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

On the same day she debated her two rivals for the DFL nomination for governor on MPR, Margaret Anderson Kelliher released her plan to balance the budget that she says stresses job creation.

The plan seems to show John Gunyou's influence. It looks a little bit like some of the reports the agency he used to head--the state finance department (now called Minnesota Management and Budget)-- puts out.

Some of the highlights include: leveraging federal dollars (most specifically for health care), closing tax loopholes and raising income taxes, spending on roads bridges and transit, and creating new ways to track whether state spending is producing results.

Kelliher also calls for continuing the school payment shift until the economy improves while at the same saying she will "make sure every school has the resources they need to prepare our children for success in the 21st century economy."

She also proposes an "Office of Human Services Inspector General" to root out fraud.

Read the plan here.

Fox9/Rasmussen Poll: DFLers lead Emmer

Posted at 9:51 PM on July 20, 2010 by Tom Scheck (3 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor, Tim Pawlenty

The latest Fox9/Rasmussen Reports poll shows all three DFL candidates for governor leading Republican Tom Emmer and Independence Party candidate Tom Horner.

The poll showed Margaret Anderson Kelliher leading Emmer 40% to 35%. Horner received 11% support.

Mark Dayton led Emmer 40% to 36%. Horner received 10% support.

Matt Entenza led Emmer 37% to 36%. Horner received 12% support.

The Margin of Error is 4.5%

You can read Fox 9's story and find links to the poll results and questions here.

Side note: The poll also found that President Obama and Governor Tim Pawlenty have identical approval numbers: 49%.

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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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