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Capitol View: July 23, 2012 Archive

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The Daily Digest (Ellison says Bachmann should apologize, MN's delegation worried about fiscal cliff, Survey USA poll)

Posted at 6:27 AM on July 23, 2012 by Tom Scheck (3 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

President Obama provided comfort to the victims of a movie theater shooting in Colorado on Thursday night.

The presidential campaign will now resume after pausing for the Colorado shooting.

Economy

The global economy is in the worst shape since 2009.

Unemployment rates rose in 27 states.

Bachmann

Huma Abedin, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's top aide who was put in the limelight after GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann questioned whether she was linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, is now receiving police protection. The New York Post says she was threatened by a Muslim man.

DFL Rep. Keith Ellison said Bachmann should just admit that she's wrong for her suggestions that Abedin and other federal officials are linked to the group.

MPR also has reaction to Bachmann's suggestion that Ellison is linked to the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR.

The top members of the House Intelligence Committee disavow Bachmann.

The Fix says Bachmann has the worst week in Washington last week.

GOP Rep. Erik Paulsen, John Kline and GOP Rep. Chip Cravaack aren't commenting about Bachmann's comments.

The Hill says Bachmann's political stock has taken a hit just one year after she won the Iowa Straw Poll.

Politico says Bachmann isn't toast.

Congress
MPR says some members of Minnesota's congressional delegation are worried about heading off the fiscal cliff on January 1.

Under the Dome
Gov Dayton is seeking more flood aid from the federal government.

Race for Legislature

AP also has a look at some of the primaries.

Amendment that would ban same-sex marriage

A KSTP/Survey USA poll shows more support for the amendment (52%) than opposition to it (37%).

PRI says the amendment is forcing Somali immigrants to confront a taboo.

Race for Congress

The 8th District DFL candidates appeared on TPT's Almanac.

The Star Tribune profiled Democrat Tarryl Clark.

Polling

The Survey USA/KSTP poll of likely voters in Minnesota has President Obama leading Mitt Romney by 6 percentage points, DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar leading Republican Kurt Bills by fourteen 24 percentage points and Pawlenty being the most popular VP candidates for Romney.

Race for President

Mitt Romney sprinted ahead in the race for cash.

The Washington Post says swing states are seeing a sunnier economic picture and that could help President Obama.

Romney is headed abroad this week.

Pawlenty for VP Watch

The Pi Press says Pawlenty could bring a lot to the Romney ticket.

The Star Tribune says his vanilla like appearance may help him get the nod.

(3 Comments)

Zellers backs challenger over House GOP caucus member

Posted at 12:50 PM on July 23, 2012 by Tom Scheck (4 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2012, Campaign 2012: Minn. House Races, MN Legislature


Republican House Speaker Kurt Zellers announced today that he's backing Cindy Pugh over Rep. Steve Smith, R-Mound, in the August 14 primary. On his Facebook page, Zellers said he was backing Pugh because she "will represent the conservative values of the district."

"On important issues like education, government reform and protecting child care providers from forced unionization, I know where Cindy stands. She stands with students, with taxpayers and with families. She isn't someone who is going to let a special interest push her around."

"Cindy is a true conservative, and she's proven it through her years working on behalf of conservatives as a party and local volunteer. She is endorsed by the Republican Party, and is going to stand up for what is right - limited government, lower taxes and economic freedom. A vote for Cindy is a vote for the principles that make us conservative."

Zellers' announcement is rare example of a leader backing a challenger over a member of his own caucus. Smith is also the longest serving Republican on the House. He was elected in 1990.

Smith has not followed GOP leadership on some issues. He voted against the same-sex marriage amendment in 2011. The Legislature ultimately passed the amendment and put it on the 2012 ballot.

Zellers also ousted Smith as chair of the House Judiciary and Policy Committee in 2011. The speaker said at the time that the move was "due to personal reasons."

Smith filed to run again on the last day of filings. Despite losing his party's endorsement to Pugh, Smith said he wanted to "continue to do good work at the Capitol."

"I think I've served well for 22 years, and I want to continue," Smith told MPR News last month.

Pugh highlighted the endorsement on her Facebook page.

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is so refreshing to see that people all over the state recognize that a fresh voice is needed for the good people of 33B."

The legislative district includes Mound, Excelsior, Deephaven and other communities around Lake Minnetonka.

(4 Comments)

Paulsen weighs in on Bachmann flap

Posted at 2:56 PM on July 23, 2012 by Tim Pugmire (3 Comments)
Filed under: Michele Bachmann, U.S. House

Congressman Erik Paulsen says the recent comments made by fellow Republican Michele Bachmann about Islamic fundamentalists infiltrating high levels of U.S. government were "not appropriate" and "not accurate."

Paulsen offered his take on the flap today following his appearance at a Minnesota House committee hearing on federal health care issues. Bachmann has faced bipartisan criticism for suggesting with some other GOP members of Congress that Democratic Rep. Keith Ellison and a top state department staffer have ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. Paulsen would not say whether Bachmann owes anyone an apology.

"Well, I'll just say I don't agree with her comments, and I don't think they were right to go after an administration official without any background that would prove otherwise," Paulsen said. "It's up to her to kind of handle that on her own now."

Asked if he believes there are any links between U.S. government officials and the Muslim Brotherhood Paulsen answered with an emphatic no.

(3 Comments)

Brodkorb sues the Minnesota Senate

Posted at 2:58 PM on July 23, 2012 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, State Government

A former Minnesota Senate staffer filed a lawsuit in Ramsey County District Court today saying he was wrongfully fired. Michael Brodkorb, once a top aide to former Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, claims he was fired because he was having an affair with Koch. In his suit against the Senate and the state, he contends female employees who had similar relationships in the past were not fired.

He also said the Senate's top administrator Cal Ludeman violated his privacy rights, and Brodkorb is suing him for defamation of character and slander. Brodkorb's attorney Phil Villaume said his client is seeking $50,000 in damages but the total award could be more than that. He said they want a jury trial.

"We're very optimistic that we have a strong case. We feel we're going to fare well in the proceedings," Villaumse said. "We've got a long ways to go. It will probably take a year at the least to get a resolution. We have a long ways to go but we're very optimistic."

Villaume said he would have preferred to settle the case out of court, but Senate leaders declined his offers to negotiate. GOP Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem has said that Brodkorb worked on an at-will basis and was terminated because he was no longer needed after Koch resigned her position as Majority Leader.

The Senate has approved nearly $85,000 in legal fees through June.

Uodate: Senjem released this written statement:

"Our attorneys will defend the Minnesota Senate and the Secretary of the Senate from this lawsuit, which we believe is without any merit whatsoever. Along with our attorneys, we will do everything in our power to protect the interests of the taxpayers. The Minnesota Senate is and always has been responsible in its employment procedures and practices. "I believe the Senate has done nothing wrong. In fact, the Senate has acted carefully and appropriately in regards to this employment issue. I am not interested in a mediated settlement, and I believe the Senate will prevail in court."

Here's a copy of the suit:

100847493-Brodkorb-Lawsuit-July-23-2012

(1 Comments)
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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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