The Daily Digest

Posted at 12:08 AM on December 8, 2010 by Tom Scheck (6 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

Minnesota's race for governor is coming to an end. Several news outlets, including MPR News, report that Republican Tom Emmer will concede the governor's race to Democrat Mark Dayton this morning. Emmer will make the announcement at his home in Delano at 10:30. MPR News will air the announcement live.

The move means Mark Dayton will be the first Democrat elected governor of Minnesota since 1986. His campaign spokeswoman said late Tuesday that they had little to say about Emmer's announcement. Dayton is likely to hold a news conference later today. MPR will also air that news conference live.

Expect Dayton to ramp up the transition team even more in the coming weeks. He can now hire personnel, make appointments and start crafting his budget plan to erase a $6.2 billion budget deficit. It also means Minnesota will enroll in Medical Assistance. Dayton has until January 15th to signal that he will enroll in the federal health program. Republicans, including Emmer and Governor Pawlenty, opposed it. Dayton supported it.

Emmer's announcement comes after the Minnesota Supreme Court effectively knocked out his only path to power. The court issued its opinion on Tuesday outlining why it rejected Emmer's petition to require county election officials to reconcile the number of ballots with the numbers signed in on Election Day. The court said there are several ways elections officials can reconcile the issue. Here's the opinion.

The State Canvassing Board meets today to start reviewing the contested ballots in the race for governor. KSTP, which broke the story, reports that Emmer's team will withdraw every one of its challenges at the meeting.

Emmer's decision also comes one day after more than two thirds of those polled say Emmer should concede in the race.

Under the Dome

GOP Sen.-elect Michelle Benson of Ham Lake is pregnant and due in April.

Congress

President Obama defends the tax cut deal with the GOP.

The New York Times says the deal is a backdoor stimulus plan for Obama.

Minneota's delegation has a mixed reaction to the deal. Democrats like DFL Rep. Betty McCollum and Keith Ellison, don't like the tax cuts for the rich. Republicans, like GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann, don't like the unemployment benefits extension.

The Supreme Court agrees to hear a greenhouse gas case that was brought by Xcel Energy and other utilities.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar wants to speed up the delisting of the gray wolf in Minnesota.

Kline will be elected to the House Education and Labor Committee today. He will be the only member of Minnesota's delegation to hold a gavel. Kline talked with the Pi Press about his priorities for business and education.

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann and Kline wrote a letter to President Obama saying he didn't say God enough.

2012

Public Policy Polling says DFL Sen. Klobuchar is well ahead of possible GOP challengers.

Pawlenty for Prez Watch

Governor Pawlenty will make an education related announcement at 9am at the State Capitol.

Finally

Good-bye Elizabeth Edwards.

Comments (6)

I could be gracious and praise Emmer for finally showing a little class in giving up, if that were the case. Unfortunately, the only reason Emmer, insult comedian Tony Sutton and hack lawyers Tony Trimble and Eric ("I used to be somebody") Magnuson are riding off into the sunset is that Supreme Court Justice Paul Anderson told Trimble and Magnuson their law licenses were at risk* if they continued to jerk Minnesotans around with their campaign of disingenuous trash. The Republican Party of Minnesota is still run by infantile frat boys.
*http://theuptake.org/2010/12/03/justice-anderson-lectures-emmer-attorneys/

Posted by Ralph Crammedin | December 8, 2010 7:47 AM

Minnesota Independent is the source of the story and link about Bachmann and Kline berating the President for insufficient "God" references.
http://minnesotaindependent.com/74937/bachmann-kline-obamas-not-acting-christian-enough

Posted by peter hill | December 8, 2010 9:06 AM

Maybe a different header for the Elizabeth Edwards portion?

Posted by Korla | December 8, 2010 10:40 AM

Supreme Court Justice Paul Anderson told Trimble and Magnuson their law licenses were at risk* if they continued to jerk Minnesotans around with their campaign of disingenuous trash.

If this is true, then I am ashamed of the judicial activism on the court. Through both recounts it has been quite obvious how one-sided the opinions of both courts were in favor of the DFL candidate. Now justice will go to far as to threaten lawyers not to even bring arguments before the court. Disgraceful.

What is the source of this information Mr. Crammedin?

Posted by Laura Davis | December 8, 2010 10:47 AM

@Laura Davis, perhaps your ideological blinders were on too tightly for you to see the link to Justice Anderson's gentle explanation to the Messrs. Trimble and Magnuson, Esq. that their gross and frivolous abuse of the election process would have consequences. With your mind made up on the substance of the Justice's lecture before hearing it, however, you may wish to ignore it entirely, to avoid becoming confused by the facts. (here's the link):
http://theuptake.org/2010/12/03/justice-anderson-lectures-emmer-attorneys/

Posted by Ralph Crammedin | December 8, 2010 12:24 PM

Thank you for the link. I will look at it. I was going by YOUR characterization, Mr. Crabbedin, that their law licenses were at risk and that they were lectured to. I believe who ever comes before the court should be given respect. If the court doesn't want to hear arguments then say so, but don't bully the lawyers before you even know what the situation is being brought before you.

Posted by Laura Davis | December 8, 2010 3:55 PM

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