Capitol View

Capitol View: December 17, 2012 Archive

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The Daily Digest (Shooting prompts gun control debate, Bachmann is quiet, MN's electoral votes are cast today)

Posted at 6:12 AM on December 17, 2012 by Tom Scheck (0 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest


President Obama visited Newtown, CT last night. He attended a memorial service for the children and faculty who were murdered at an elementary school on Friday. He said the nation isn't doing enough to protect its children.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is calling on President Obama to take action on guns.

The Wall St. Journal says California Senator Diane Feinstein plans to introduce legislation that would ban assault weapons.

The New York Times also says the Justice Department shelved ideas to improve background checks on gun buyers.

DFL Rep. Keith Ellison called for greater gun control laws.

DFL Sen. Al Franken, who is on the ballot in 2014, and several other members of Minnesota's delegation declined to say whether changes to gun laws need to occur.

The Hartford Courant has a look at the victims and their stories.

The Hartford Courant has the most detailed breakdown of what happened in the school.

AP says the gunman in the shooting repeatedly shot his mother in the head before he went on his rampage at a Connecticut school.

The Washington Post says the gunman's mother collected guns and took her sons to the shooting range.

The New York Times says the weapon used is popular among gun owners.

The New York Times also says the Justice Department shelved ideas to improve background checks on gun buyers.

Under the Dome
Minnesota's ten electoral votes will be cast today during a ceremony at the State Capitol. Minnesota voted for President Obama in November.

MPR says flood aid to northeastern Minnesota is only a trickle so far.

The Mankato Free Press says the number of farmers in the new Legislature will be a record low.

Minnesota is implementing new ways to educate immigrant students.

The Star Tribune says the Metropolitan Airports Commission and the Met Council are under fire for not being public enough.

Politics in Minnesota says the House DFL named their assistant majority leaders.

The Pi Press and Duluth News Tribune take a look at the high use and abuse of prescription opiates.

The Star Tribune says Golden Valley holds the fate of an LRT line.

Washington D.C.
Reuters says Speaker John Boehner opened the door to increasing income tax rates.

He also proposed a debt ceiling increase for a year.

Millions will face higher taxes if a fix isn't made quickly.

AP says President Obama is likely to pick Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry as the next Secretary of State.

MPR reports that GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann is keeping a low profile after her close election in November.

The Star Tribune says a tax credit for wind energy may blow away.

The Mesabi Daily News says there will be a forum on permitting.

(0 Comments)

Dayton: Constitution limits gun control options

Posted at 2:35 PM on December 17, 2012 by Tom Scheck (3 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton, State Government

Gov. Mark Dayton says he's not sure there's much he can do to regulate guns in Minnesota, but he said he's willing to consider all options. In the aftermath of the school shooting in Connecticut Dayton says he's willing to consider gun-control measures, but he said he isn't sure the efforts would be constitutional.

"I took an oath of office not to uphold the country but to uphold the constitution of the United States as both as a Senator and then as Governor," Dayton said. "And my understanding and my reading of the governor is that it provides a complete permission for any law abiding citizen to possess firearms whichever ones that he or she chooses and the ammunition to go with that."

Dayton dismissed talk of allowing teachers and other school employees to carry guns. He said that would increase the danger to students. He also said his administration is working with schools to ensure that they have plans in place to deal with attacks.

(3 Comments)

Legislators propose Electoral College reform

Posted at 3:01 PM on December 17, 2012 by Tim Pugmire (2 Comments)
Filed under: Redistricting

pop vote 001.jpg
On the day Minnesota's presidential electors met to cast their votes, supporters of a national popular vote made a case for changing the Electoral College system.

State Sen. Ann Rest, DFL-New Hope, and state Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, announced plans for bipartisan legislation next session that would award Minnesota's 10 electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the most popular votes in all 50 states, regardless of who Minnesota votes for. Garofalo said the change would guarantee equal value for every vote.

"If you look at the current process, everyone understands that places like Ohio, Pennsylvania, swings states, this is a really good process for them right now," Garofalo said. "Unfortunately, the rest of the country gets hosed."

Organizers of the national effort stress that they are not trying to eliminate the Electoral College, and that a constitutional amendment is not needed to make the changes they seek. They say the new rules would take effect when states possessing a majority of 270 electoral votes enact an identical bill. So far, nine eight states and the District of Columbia with 132 electoral votes are on board.

(2 Comments)

Committee calls for added security at the State Capitol

Posted at 4:42 PM on December 17, 2012 by Tom Scheck (0 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

An advisory committee trying to come up with ways to make Minnesota's State Capitol more secure released some suggestions today.

The report calls for increasing the number of state troopers working at the Capitol from two officers to 12. It also calls for the Commissioner of Public Safety to oversee security decisions regarding the State Capitol complex. The committee did not recommend metal detectors to screen people entering the complex.

The panel of state lawmakers, law enforcement personnel and government building managers has been meeting for several months. Some of the work was done in private so the panel could discuss security issues.

A 2009 report by the Legislative Auditor found that the Capitol has significant security problems. The final report is expected to be adopted at a public meeting of the Advisory Committee in early January.

Here's the draft report:

Advisory Committee on Capitol Area Security DRAFT RPT 11-30-12

(0 Comments)

Lawmaker wants teachers to carry guns

Posted at 6:07 PM on December 17, 2012 by Tom Scheck (25 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton


A state lawmaker plans to introduce legislation next session that would allow teachers to carry guns in school.

Rep. Tony Cornish, R-Good Thunder, says he plans to introduce the legislation as a result of the shooting deaths of 26 children, teachers and school administrators at an elementary school in Connecticut. Cornish says arming teachers and staff would be the best option to prevent additional attacks.

"It's something that we have to face that all of the laws in the world sometimes aren't just going to work," Cornish said. "The cop can't be everywhere so the best person to defend yourself is yourself."

Cornish's plan has been pushed by gun rights groups as a result of the tragedy in Connecticut but it's already being dismissed by Governor Dayton.

"I think that would just increase the danger," Dayton told reporters this morning. "To have weapons in classrooms, to me, defies common sense."

Gun control is likely to be a hot topic at the Legislature this year. Some advocates want tougher background checks on those buying guns.

(25 Comments)
December 2012
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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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