Capitol View: March 20, 2012 Archive

The Daily Digest

Posted at 7:00 AM on March 20, 2012 by Catharine Richert (1 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

Welcome to the Daily Digest, where the voter ID bill gets a vote in the full House, House Republicans detail their bonding bill plan, and the presidential candidates release their February fundraising.

Around Minnesota

House Republicans are putting forward a $280 million public works bill that focuses mostly on asset preservation at the state's higher education institutions, correctional facilities and local road and bridge improvement.

A constitutional amendment that would require voters to show ID at the polls is headed to a House vote today.

Minnesota's unions have formed We Are Minnesota, a fund meant to raise money to oppose a proposed constitutional amendment that would make union membership and the payment of union dues voluntary for all workers.

Senate sponsor Dave Thompson has a presser scheduled on the "right-to-work" bill this morning at 9 a.m.

Senate Democrats filed an ethics complaint against Sen. Geoff Michel for how he handled news that former Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch and her spokesman Michael Brodkorb were having an inappropriate relationship.

Minnesota's lobbying expenses were $59 million in 2011.

Gov. Mark Dayton lobbied Minneapolis City Council members on the Vikings stadium.

A bill to legalize slot machines at Minnesota's two horse tracks failed in a Senate committee.

The Minneapolis redistricting map could include first-ever 'Somali ward.' Hear more about it on the Daily Circuit.

Eight term DFLer Bill Hilty is leaving the Minnesota House.

Dayton's The Task Force on the Prevention of School Bullying has begun its work.

In Washington

The House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and members of the House Budget Committee are unveiling the new House Republican budget this morning.

Expect spending cuts for domestic programs and changes to Medicare and Medicaid.

What do farming and the new health care law have in common? The New York Times writes precedent rooted in a decades old farming case will play an important role in the Supreme Court's decision on whether to uphold the new health care law.

The Daily Caller writes that Rep. Chip Cravaack has 'no confidence' in AG Eric Holder.

Around the Nation

A federal appeals court upheld a law requiring graphic warning labels on cigarettes.

An upcoming report will show that manufacturing is worse off than economists thought, the Washington Post reports.

The Justice Department will investigate the killing of a Florida teenager.

On the Campaign Trail

Today is the Illinois primary.

Rick Santorum talked about a brokered convention while campaigning in Illinois.

The Associated Press reports that nearly 100 pastors from around the nation an invitation to hear a personal pitch Sunday from Santorum.

The New York Times writes that Santorum's writings show he's been consistent in his views.

Mitt Romney says that he cares about the unemployment rate. He was seizing on Santorum's earlier comment that "I don't care what the unemployment rate's going to be. It doesn't matter to me. My campaign doesn't hinge on unemployment rates and growth rates."

Romney's big-money bundlers are key to his campaign, the Washington Post reports.

Obama for American raised $45 million for Obama's reelection and the Democratic National Committee in February - about $15 million more than what it raised in January.

Romney raised $11.5 million for the same month and Santorum raised more than $9 million.

Where the NCAA tournament and the presidential campaign collide.