Daily Brief: Thursday, Sept. 19th, 2013

Posted by SD48 DFL Communications Team in Daily Brief, News

In the Know

Minnesota DFL
Sept. 19, 2013

Events today
· 1 p.m. – The Select Committee on Living Wage jobs meets in Willmar.
· 4 p.m. – Former Minnesota U.S. Rep. Vin Weber speaks on the topic of “Constructive Calamity? Surprising Progress on Fiscal Problems,” at the U’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
· 5 p.m. – Organizing for Action holds a press conference to “get out the word about the benefits of Obamacare,” in Minneapolis.
· 6:30 p.m. – Gov. Dayton will provide remarks at the NAACP Saint Paul Branch 100th Anniversary celebration at the Crown Plaza, St. Paul.
· 7 p.m. – Public forum on human trafficking in Duluth’s harbor and elsewhere. Trepainer Hall, 212 W. 2nd St., Duluth.

2013 election
Assessing mayoral yard signs: Obama’s design sensibility has trickled down, MinnPost

2014 election
Top GOP donors pitch coordinated campaign in 2014, Politics in Minnesota

Governor
‘Zellers team has never lost an election’ except…, Star Tribune

U.S. Senate
Minnesota GOP candidate for U.S. Senate support immigration bill, St. Cloud Times

Bonding bill
The prospects for next year’s state bonding bill, MPR

Campaign finance law
More loophole than law, MinnPost

Congress
House cancels recess, returning Sept. 25, The Hill

Congressional delegation
Minnesota politicians wait for Kline, Peterson exits to ascend, Roll Call

Bachmann
Peter Waldron, the Florida minister who initiated series of investigations by the FBI and the House Ethics Committee into U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann’s failed 2012 presidential campaign, is getting married in his hometown of Clearwater. The bride is Roseann Colucci Swartout. There will be a private civil ceremony on Sept. 26, followed by a wedding celebration with invited guests on Sept. 7, 2014. It is the second marriage for both bride and groom. Star Tribune

Ellison
U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison’s autobiography, originally set for a September release, is now scheduled to hit bookshelves and online retailers in January 2014. Ellison’s publisher, New Jersey-based Karen Hunter Publishing, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on why the release of the book, “My Country ‘Tis of Thee,” was postponed. Star Tribune

Franken
Tapping again into his celebrity past, U.S. Sen. Al Franken on Wednesday invited supporters to donate and win “a trip to Washington to hang out with me and Paul Simon on October 4th.” Earlier this year, Franken held a California fundraiser headlined by TV guy Conan O’Brien and had a January fundraiser with musicians Kenny Loggins, Georgia Middleman and Gary Burr. Franken said in Wednesday’s email: “Even if you’ve been lucky enough to see Paul perform before, I bet you’ve never seen him at a small, intimate event like the one we’re planning. I bet you’ve never gotten to meet the legend himself and get a photo with him. At least not one that I’m also in.” Star Tribune

Kline
Congressional office visiting Goodhue County September 26, Kenyon Leader
John Kline: Minimum wage for home-care workers will force some people into institutions, Patch

Klobuchar
Klobuchar: GOP Obamacare plans amount to ‘poison pill partisanship’, MinnPost

McCollum
Among the thousands of callers to U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum’s office to express opposition to a U.S. military strike in Syria this month was one claiming to be former Gov. Jesse Ventura of Dellwood. Sources inside the congresswoman’s office said he chatted amiably with the receptionist to register his opinion. He did not request an audience with McCollum. Star Tribune

Paulsen
Paulsen questions acting IRS commissioner, YouTube

Debt ceiling
Joint Economic Committee considers debt ceiling fallout, C-SPAN
Klobuchar: Debt ceiling default could send economy into ‘downward spiral,’ Star Tribune

Democratic state parties
Weak state parties weigh down Senate Democrats in South, The Hill

Education (K-12)
‘We have a big challenge in front of us’, Albert Lea Tribune
For better Minneapolis schools, embrace mayoral control, Star Tribune
First alternative teacher prep program readies for approval, MPR