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In the Know

Minnesota DFL

May 8, 2013

Events today

·         State Auditor Rebecca Otto release the 2011 Minnesota County Finances Report.

2013 election

Minneapolis mayoral candidate Betsy Hodges asks Minneapolis Somalis for support, votes, TC Daily Planet

Lilligren wants DFL to rescind opponent’s endorsement, MPR

 

2014 election

Honour reveals more campaign hires, Star Tribune

Scott Honour, GOP candidate for governor, names campaign team, MinnPost

Who is Jeff Johnson? MN Progressive Project

Scott Honour announces deep campaign bench, PIM

GOP gubernatorial candidate Scott Honour announces campaign team, Pioneer Press

Alliance for a Better Minnesota will release a video highlighting Republican gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson’s support for Newt Gingrich. Johnson supported Gingrich’s 2012 presidential campaign. The video is called, “Jeff Johnson: Just another Gingrich politician” WATCH: http://bit.ly/ZGN53K Morning Take

2016 election

GOP investigation into Libya assault stokes political controversy with 2016 implications, Star Tribune

Bonding

Bonding bill stands still, Capitol Chatter

 

Congressional delegation

Bachmann

Michele Bachmann is in talks to settle Iowa lawsuit, Star Tribune

More legal trouble for Michele Bachmann?, MN Progressive Project

Scheduler has been with Bachmann since ‘day one’, Roll Call

Michele Bachmann may face lawsuit over ‘religious freedom in the military’ campaign, US News

Chuck Norris joins Michele Bachmann in call for 9/11 Prayer Day to crank up ‘spiritual warfare’, Huffington Post

Michele Bachmann ethics investigation: What’s the worst that could happen? Policymic

Mikey Weinstein threatens to sue Michele Bachmann for ‘lies’ in military religion fundraising email, Huffington Post

According to a well-placed Republican source Rep. Michele Bachmann has found a framework to settle the lawsuit against her campaign by Iowa homeschool advocate Barb Heki. Bachmann was in Des Moines Monday where she personally helped negotiate the confidential six-figure settlement. The suit which is at the center of a Congressional ethics investigation and an Iowa Senate investigation, involves the theft of a list of homeschool advocates by the Bachmann campaign during her 2012 Presidential run. Morning Take

Ellison

Salon: ‘We need More Keith Ellisons in Congress’, Patch

Franken

Ag energy coalition thanks Sens. Franken and 8 Co-sponsors for introducing Farm Bill Energy Title Reauthorization Bill, Fort Mills Times

Franken visits Minnesota civic leaders to push immigration reforms, Star Tribune

Kline

Minnesota congressman’s bill hurts workers, Star Tribune

Klobuchar

New report showing increased sexual assault in military highlights need for action, says Klobuchar, ECM

Dayton

Jobs Coalition files finance complaint over Dayton use of state plane, MinnPost

 

Mike Vekich may want to put “appointed” on his business card. The turn-around expert and management advisor was appointed to seven different positions by former Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty, briefly led Republican Tom Emmer’s gubernatorial transition team in 2010, and headed the Minnesota Republican Party’s “efforts to deal with its finances” in 2011 and 2012. Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton continued the trend. On Tuesday, he announced he had re-appointed Vekich to the Minnesota Board of Accountancy. Vekich’s term will last through January 2017. Star Tribune

 

Economy

Rural Minnesotans less optimistic about economy, MPR

 

Environment

Meet Minnesota’s new zebra mussel inspectors: dogs, MPR

 

Education (early)

Chuck Slocum: Early learning: Business quietly backs market-based reforms, Pioneer Press

 

Education (Higher)

Passing the DREAM, Minnesota Daily

 

Education (K-12)

After heated debate, House passes bill to prevent school bullying, Session Daily

Graph of the Day: Minnesota’s graduation gaps, Minnesota 2020

Our view: Make bullying bill a priority in St. Paul, Duluth News Tribune

Finance committee gets school bullying bill, Pioneer Press

Joe Soucheray: Do kids really need to be monitored like hothouse orchids to prevent bullying? Pioneer Press

Finance committee gets school bullying bill, Pioneer Press

House passes anti-bullying bill; legislators recall personal experiences, ECM

Minnesota’s disabled students and restraints, Star Tribune

 

Energy

Minnesota House passes bill that would require 4% solar power, Star Tribune

Time to strengthen next Generation Energy Act, Minnesota 2020

 

Environment

Key differences remain in omnibus environment, ag bill, Session Daily

 

Fishing opener

“My lake’s frozen,” Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk joked with reporters Tuesday, when asked whether he plans to call the Senate in to work this weekend – during the fishing opener. All joking aside, Bakk, of northern Cook, Minn., said the timing of a Senate vote on gay marriage will depend on when the House votes on the issue. If the House votes on Thursday, as expected, the earliest the Senate could vote would be Saturday. “I don’t have a problem with taking it on Saturday, if we have it,” Bakk said. “But that will be a caucus decision.” – Star Tribune

 

GOP

Thompson: Catching up during a quickly moving session, Patch

Political redemption: Former SC Gov. Mark Sanford wins his old congressional seat, Star Tribune

Case closed against Minnesota Republican Party, Star Tribune

St. Paul pastor at center of U.S. labor secretary confirmation battle, Star Tribune

Christie had secret weight-loss surgery, says it was for family, health, not presidential run, Star Tribune

Democrats Hit the Wall Again in South Carolina Special Election, Smart Politics

Mark Sanford wins South Carolina special election, The Washington Post

Update from State Rep. Mary Franson, May 3, 2013, Osakis Review

 

The Minnesota Jobs Coalition, an independent spending group run by Republican operatives, wants watchdogs to take a closer look at Gov. Mark Dayton’s use of the state plane. As the Star Tribune reported, Dayton used the state plane for some campaign stops and paid the state back for that use. But the coalition notes that the flights were in October, yet he didn’t report the debt in his year-end report and didn’t pay the state until January 3. The coalition is asking the Minnesota campaign finance agency to investigate whether Dayton failed to report debt he should have reported.  Last week, the group asked the state’s legislative auditor to investigate whether Dayton violated state policy by using the state plane for campaign purposes. Star Tribune

Guns

Rally by gun-control advocates didn’t change Thissen’s mind, MinnPost

NRA celebrates gains on guns, but faces long-term challenges, Pioneer Press

Senators discuss changing background checks bill, KSTP

 

Immigration

Norquist, Klobuchar find common ground on immigration reform, MinnPost

Our View: Foreign-born doctors fill crucial need in U.S., Rochester Post Bulletin

Immigration rules keep Minneapolis family apart, Star Tribune

Immigration battle: Marco Rubio vs. Jim DeMint, Politico

 

Labor

House GOP set to push through bill that would let workers trade overtime pay for more time off, Star Tribune

H.R. 1406: A Republican bill to upend overtime pay for workers, Committee on Education & Workforce Democrats

Minnesota Orchestra: A $5 million, five-year plan, Star Tribune

Working moms? Let’s drop that expression, Star Tribune

Legislature

DFL legislators, Dayton continue budget talks, Star Tribune

Dayton, DFL leaders still looking for budget deal, MPR

Burnsville representative wants 25 percent fewer colleagues, Patch

 

Lobbying

Minnesota local governments spent $1.1 million to lobby in Washington, MinnPost

 

Marriage equality

Mindful of his own story, Detroit Lakes area widower speaks out for the freedom to marry, Bluestream Prairie

Gay-marriage bill has votes to pass Minnesota House, sponsor Clark says, MinnPost

Same-sex marriage bill clears Minn. House committee, MPR

Minnesota House to vote on same-sex marriage Thursday, Star Tribune

Same-sex marriage bill heads to House floor, supporters confident, MPR

The deep roots of the marriage debate, MPR

As same-sex marriage nears vote in Legislature, Minnesotans weigh in, MPR

Chris Kluwe says equal rights are more important than football, MPR

MARRIAGE EQUALITY: Minn. Freedom to Marry Act gets full House vote Thursday, Fox 9

Minnesota GOP lawmaker who was on fence a no on gay marriage, WDAY

Minnesota appears poised to legalize gay marriage, US News

Knutson, Gulley, Seide: Marriage: Extend the freedom to same-sex couples, Pioneer Press

Melissa Coleman: Redefining marriage is extreme; Minnesota Legislature should seek to solve specific problems first, Pioneer Press

Reality Check: Economic impact of gay marriage, WCCO

Minnesota appears poised to legalize gay marriage, WCCO

Another formerly undecided lawmaker backs gay marriage, WCCO

Committees clear way for House vote on same-sex marriage bill, KARE

Rep: Same-sex marriage: part politics, part personal, Marshall Independent

In an email call to action yesterday from Minnesotans for Marriage, HEADLINE: “THE TIME IS NOW! LAST STAND FOR MARRIAGE!..A VOTE ON THE BILL TO LEGALIZE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IS ON THURSDAY, MAY 9th! ..PLEASE COME TO THE STATE CAPITOL AT 9:00 A.M. FOR PRAYERFUL PROTEST”  MORE: It is important enough to take time off from work or school to participate.  We need everyone to be at the Capitol in St. Paul dressed in blue and green Minnesota for Marriage colors.  We will provide signs while supply lasts. Morning Take

Minimum wage

Minnesota Senate to vote on minimum wage raise, Star Tribune

Minn. Senate to vote on minimum wage, MPR

 

Taxes

Senate income tax increase doesn’t hit the middle-class, TC Daily Planet

21 Senate Republicans vote for new taxes, MinnPost

Gas tax hike proposal resurfaces in Minnesota Legislature, Star Tribune

Internet sales tax bill faces tough sell in House, MPR

Reader’s view: Democrats are out of control on taxes, spending, Duluth News Tribune

States need sales tax fairness, Star Tribune

Minnesota taxes: Attraction or repulsion: Pioneer Press editorial, Pioneer Press

What is the impact of the Senate’s income tax vote? Fox 9

 

Viking stadium

Vikes stadium unveiling: Expect ‘modernistic’ design with ‘outdoor feel’, MinnPost

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