Capitol View: February 21, 2012 Archive

The Daily Digest

Posted at 6:30 AM on February 21, 2012 by Catharine Richert (1 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

Welcome to the Daily Digest, where we can't wait to see the state's new political boundaries.

The redistricting maps come out at 1 p.m. You'll be able to access them here.

Rep. Mindy Greiling talks about how redistricting can change a politician's home turf.

Rep. Michele Bachmann says she will run for reelection to the 6th Congressional District seat regardless of the redistricting map.

MPR takes a close look at the Alliance for a Better Minnesota and the group's influence on DFL party politics.

The group, which helped Gov. Mark Dayton get elected in 2010, says its setting its sights on the state Legislature.

If you're interested in how ABM made their money in 2010, here's a graphic.

Republican state Sen. Jeremy Miller is hesitant to support his party's constitutional amendments, the Winona Daily News reports.

The Star Tribune writes that fees and donations to the Trust for Public Land are under scrutiny.

The Minnesota House passed a bill that would require a community be notified of a sex offender's discharge, even if it's to a halfway house.

The state Senate approved a bill that would require teachers to prove they have basic academic knowledge.

After promising to make his meeting schedule transparent, Dayton goes back on his word, the Associated Press reports.

Take Action Minnesota, a group opposing a voter ID amendment, is accusing Minnesota Majority, a group in favor of the amendment, of using racial imagery to promote the issue.

A winter drought has some farmers rethinking their crop strategies.

In Washington

Republican leaders are linking the Obama administration to high gas prices.

Incidentally, so is the Republican Party of Minnesota as it argues for green-lighting the Keystone XL Pipeline.

National News

With the role of religion and contraception making an appearance in this year's election, the New York Times finds that more Catholic hospitals are joining with secular hospitals, in some cases limiting contraception, abortion and sterilization.

International News

European leaders agreed on more help for Greece.

Iran has halted its crude exports to Britain and France.

The country said it will make a preemptive strike against its opponents if it feels threatened, the New York Times reports.

On the Campaign Trail

MPR profiles Sen. Amy Kobuchar's opponents.

The wild card? Pete Hegseth, a 31-year-old captain in the Minnesota Army National Guard, who appears poised to announce his candidacy soon.

DFLers vying to challenge Rep. Chip Cravaack in the 8th Congressional District are playing up his family's move to New Hampshire, MinnPost reports.

President Obama's campaign manager will be in Minnesota this week.

Rick Santorum is explaining some of his comments on education and prenatal testing.

Money and Politics

A pro-Mitt Romney super PAC spent $14 million in January, reports the New York Times.

The NYT also writes that a pro-Newt Gingrich super PAC raised $11 million in January.

Both candidates got a big boost from their respective super PACs.

Meanwhile, a pro-Rick Santorum super PAC picked up another major donor.

More Republican campaign are relying on super PACs, the New York Times reports.

Campaign ads are more frequent and more negative, the Washington Post finds.

Two Supreme Court justices say that the Citizens United ruling should be reconsidered.

Don't Miss It

Today is the first broadcast of the Daily Circuit. Tune in from 9 to noon. The DC team will be talking redistricting, women who are putting off marriage and (my favorite topic) food with Andrew Zimmern.

And if you didn't watch the first part of the PBS documentary on Bill Clinton last night, find time to do it.