Capitol View: December 22, 2011 Archive

Zellers to speak at U of M's Humphrey School

Posted at 3:58 PM on December 22, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2012, MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Republican House Speaker Kurt Zellers is scheduled to speak at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs on Jan. 19. Zellers will preview the 2012 legislative session which begins on Jan. 24. The event takes place from Noon - 1:15 p.m. at the Cowles Auditorium on the University of Minnesota's campus.

Shortridge says he'll serve as MNGOP Chair through '12 in volunteer role

Posted at 5:03 PM on December 22, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2012

Political consultant Pat Shortridge sent an e-mail to GOP delegates today saying he intends to only serve through 2012 if he's elected chair of the Minnesota Republican Party. He also said he doesn't intend to take a salary if he's elected, a question many delegates are pondering since the party is more than $500,000 in debt.

"I am not running to build any kind of personal empire," Shortridge wrote. "I'm not running to help any particular candidate, faction, or group within the party. In fact, one of my greatest strengths, I believe, is my ability to be an honest broker and unify us in our mission to move this state in the right direction, so we don't become a basket case like New York, Illinois or California."

Shortridge says he's going to emphasize fundraising to help get the party out of debt. He said his goal, if elected, would be to keep and expand the Republican majority in the in the Minnesota House and Senate, re-elect the state's four Republican members of Congress and "take advantages of any opportunities that present themselves" (race for President, U.S. Senate and the remaining Congressional races).

Shortridge also said he intends to focus on identifying and contacting GOP voters, focusing on Republican messaging and improving researching and tracking.

"If Chip Cravaack needs to know the 5 worst tax votes Tarryl Clark ever cast, we should have it for him in minutes," Shortridge wrote. "If Tom Bakk gives a speech on the budget, we should be there recording it."

Shortridge most recently served as an advisor to Marco Rubio in Florida's 2010 U.S. Senate race. He also ran Republican Mark Kennedy's failed U.S. Senate race in 2006 and served as an aide to former House Majority Leader Dick Armey from 1991 through 2002.

Dayton talks Vikings stadium, Koch's conduct and his son's wedding

Posted at 5:26 PM on December 22, 2011 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2012, MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Tom Crann, host of MPR's All Things Considered program, interviewed Gov. Dayton about the controversy surrounding Sen. Amy Koch, the prospects for a new Minnesota Vikings stadium and his track record during his first year in office.

Dayton declined to discuss how he thinks the Senate should handle the Koch matter.

"I don't know if that's something I can be commenting on," Dayton said. "It's up to the Senate to resolve this and the Republican caucus to resolve. Their choice of a new leader will say a lot about how they view what's occurred and how they intend to proceed in the future."

Koch issued a statement last night that apologized for having an inappropriate relationship with a male staffer. Senate Republicans are scheduled to meet on Tuesday to elect a new majority leader.

Dayton declined to say whether the next majority leader will have an impact on his push to get a new Vikings stadium built.

"It depends on who the next majority leader is," Dayton said. "Obviously the Senate majority Leader and the Speaker of the House have almost complete control of the agenda of their respective bodies, if one or both of them want to duck the issue and avoid dealing with it until after the next election then they owe that explanation to the people of Minnesota."

Dayton said some of his accomplishments in his first year in office were enacting legislation that spent money on public works projects, saved $500 million in taxpayer money from requiring HMOs to big competitively for people on subsidized health insurance and praised the state's Education Commissioner for winning federal money through a Race to the Top grant.

Dayton says one of his biggest regrets was not getting his income tax hike on top earners enacted into law.

Dayton also told MPR News that his son, Eric, is getting married next week to Cornelia Oehler in San Francisco.

You can listen to the entire interview here: Listen