In the Know
Minnesota DFL
March 27, 2014
Events today
- 9 a.m. - Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson joins The Main Street Patent Coalition, Minnesota businesses and nonprofit corporations to discuss patent troll issue and patent reform. Ewald Conference Center, 1000 Westgate Drive, St. Paul.
- 9:30 a.m. - Minnesota Public Utilities Commission votes on whether to solar power or natural gas should be used to generate additional electricity for Xcel Energy’s Minnesota customers. PUC large hearing room, 121 7th Place East, Suite 350, St. Paul.
- 11 a.m. – The Senate is in session.
- 1:30 p.m. - GOP candidates for Governor: Kurt Zellers, Dave Thompson, Marty Seifert, Jeff Johnson, and Scott Honour introduced by GOP Chairman Keith Downey will hold a news conference,“holding Dayton accountable for space grab in Capitol renovation”
- 3 p.m. – The House is in session.
2014 election
Legislature
Marquart gets eighth DFL endorsement as he launches his campaign in HD 4B, Detroit Lakes Online
Secretary of State
politics.mn’s 60 Second Interview: Republican candidate for Secretary of State John Howe, politics mn
Sauk Rapids native seeks endorsement for Minnesota Secretary of State, St. Cloud Times
U.S. House
Mills moves up in Republican ‘Young Guns’ program, Star Tribune
National GOP adds support for Mills’ 8th District campaign, MPR
The Rise of GOP Primary Challengers in Minnesota US House Races, Smart Politics
U.S. Senate
An anti-Franken television ad emerges, Star Tribune
Conservative group hits Sen. Franken on proposed IRS rule changes, Washington Post
Conservative group hits the airwaves against Franken, MinnPost
2016 election
Walker hitting Vegas with other 2016 hopefuls, Pioneer Press
Capitol complex
PoliGraph: Checking Senate Office Building claims, MPR
Congressional delegation
Bachmann
Michele Bachmann: ‘Lawlessness’ on Obamacare, Politico
Franken
Franken pushes bill aimed at ‘stalking’ apps, MPR
Kline
Kline votes no on minimum wage while millionaires may stop renewal of unemployment benefits, Minnesota Political Roundtable
Peterson
Collin Peterson flies to Glencoe, tells editor DC Republicans are totally a bunch of drama queens, Buestream Prairie
Peterson makes it official — he’s running, McLeod County Chronicle
Demographics
Drawn to urban areas, 100,000 more people call Twin Cities home, Star Tribune
DFL
For DFL, 2 of out 3 would be good, Mesabi Daily News
E-cigarettes
Minn. Senate pulls E-cigs bill back into committee, WCCO
Dayton splits with health commissioner on e-cigs, Pioneer Press
Economy
Cargill to outsource IT services; 900 jobs affected, Star Tribune
Education (K-12)
Counterpoint: Why do teachers leave the toughest schools? Star Tribune
Elections
U.S. seniors have realigned with the Republican Party, Gallup
GOP
MN GOP: Making up garbage, whining about paying women fairly, MN Progressive Project
Republicans gain little ground among women, Boston Globe
Does the Republican Party of Minnesota need help with search terms, too? Franken and ACA, Bluestream Prairie
Putting aside their sometimes bitter contest for Republican support, the GOP candidates for governor today will come together to bash DFL Gov. Mark Dayton. At a Capitol news conference, five Republican men who would be governor — Kurt Zellers, Dave Thompson, Marty Seifert, Jeff Johnson and Scott Honour – will jointly express their support for killing the proposed Senate office building. The building, which would cost $90 million to construct along with related parking structures, already has caused major kerfuffles at the State Capitol and is ripe for GOP outrage. Tucked into the tax bill in 2013, the planned building would house senators during Capitol renovation and thereafter. The DFL-controlled House and Dayton signed off on the tax bill with the building in it, but more recently have expressed some doubts about its expense. Last week, Dayton said he was appalled by the first design for the building, which included a glass façade and a gym. “It was too opulent…(and) unMinnesotan,” the governor said last week. Star Tribune
Health and human services
Support Minnesota caregivers with adequate pay, Star Tribune
Labor
Northwestern football players can unionize, federal agency says in precedent-setting decision, Star Tribune
Marriage equality
Michigan won’t recognize same-sex marriages, Pioneer Press
Medical marijuana
Medical marijuana advocates bash Dayton, urge him to pass law, Star Tribune
Tearful mothers take issue with Gov. Dayton over medical marijuana, MinnPost
Parents say Dayton told them to buy pot off the street, WCCO
Dayton: Keep seeking compromise on marijuana, WCCO
Mother backing medical marijuana says Dayton told her to buy pot illegally, Pioneer Press
Parents of disabled kids push back at Dayton over medical marijuana comments, MPR
Minimum wage
Minimum-wage stalemate: Will Senate accept House indexing offer? MinnPost
MNsure
As deadline nears, more bickering over MNsure numbers, Star Tribune
MNsure seeing increase in traffic, problems as enrollment deadline nears, Pioneer Press
Republicans argue MNsure hasn’t really reached enrollment goal, Politics in Minnesota
Time ticking for health insurance coverage through MNsure, Minnesota Budget Project
Our View: Uninsured? Time to sign up or pay up, St. Cloud Times
For the young and ‘invincible,’ health insurance is a must, MinnPost
Payday loans
Tears flow on both sides of payday loan debate, Capitol Chatter
Taxes
With first tax cut measure out of the way, Democrats push for another, Star Tribune
Transportation
Dispute over Southwest light-rail project delays opening to 2019 or later, Star Tribune
A Minn. House transportation panel considers $15M for pothole repairs after harsh winter, Star Tribune
Lawmakers push for money to repair potholes around Twin Cities, WCCO
Minnesota House eyes pothole repairs — $15 million worth, Pioneer Press
Report: Most Twin Cities transportation projects face funding red light, KSTP
Veterans
Legislative report on vets housing makes startlingly bold suggestions, Star Tribune
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