In the Know

Minnesota DFL
Dec. 15, 2015
 
Events today

• 7:45 a.m. – The Senate Capital Investment Committee will tour projects in Minneapolis.
• 10 a.m. – The Governor’s Residence, 1006 Summit Ave., St. Paul, has been decorated for the holidays and is open from 10 a.m. to noon for a tour. No reservations are required; the tours will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no fee for the tour, but please consider bringing with you a gently used coat for Hallie Q. Brown Community Center. The Governor’s Residence is also a drop site of monetary donations or non-perishable food items for Second Harvest Heartland.
• 10 a.m. – The Legislative Health Care Workforce Commission meets in Room 200 of the State Office Building.
• 12:30 p.m. – The Elections Emergency Planning Task Force meets in Room 5 of the State Office Building.
• 3 p.m. – Hillary Clinton speaks at the University of Minnesota about a counter terrorism strategy that protects the U.S. homeland from terrorist attacks. Memorial Hall at the McNamara Alumni Center, 200 SE Oak St., Minneapolis.
• 7:30 p.m. – The Republican candidates for president will debate from Las Vegas on CNN.

Mark your calendars

• Dec. 16 – Congressional District 3 DFL Winter Party. 7 p.m. Nelson home, 8983 Preserve Blvd., Eden Prairie.
• Dec. 16 – Mayor Don & Laura Ness invite you to a special evening featuring some great music, a few laughs (mostly at Don’s expense), and special guests. Don Ness will give his last major address as mayor – a thank you to this community. 5:30 p.m., DECC, 350 Harbor Dr., Duluth. A free-will donation will be accepted to help pay the artists and facility charges. Cash bar will be open. Signed copies of “Hillsider” will be for sale before and after the program. The first 500 people through the door will receive a copy of the Mayor’s Mix CD featuring some of Duluth’s finest musicians!
• Dec. 17 – South Hennepin County DFL Senior Caucus will be meeting at 12:30 p.m. at Curran’s, 4201 Nicollet, Minneapolis.
• Dec. 17 – The annual march and memorial service for people who have died in the past year while homeless will be Dec. 17 in Minneapolis. Marchers will march silently, starting at 5 p.m., from the Hennepin County Government Center. They’ll walk on 5th Street to Nicollet Avenue then south to Simpson United Methodist Church, 2740 1st Av. South. The memorial service will begin at 6:30 p.m.and the name of each person who has died this year while homeless, or advocated for them, will be read.
• Dec. 19 – ABC will host a debate between the Democratic candidates for president from New Hampshire. The debate will air at 7 p.m. Central Time.
• Dec. 20 – Senate District 46 DFL will host Scott Croonquist, executive director of the Association of Metropolitan School Districts, to talk about education issues coming up in the next legislative session. 6 p.m., Davanni’s Pizza and Hot Hoagies, 663 Winnetka Ave., Golden Valley.

Fundraisers

• Jan. 29 – Congressional District 2 DFL will host A Taste of Mardi Gras. The event takes place from 7 – 11 p.m. at Neisen’s Bar & Grill, 4851 W 123rd St., Savage. Suggested contribution is $40 and tickets can be purchased online at www.dflcd2.com.
• March 12 – Senate District 63 DFL hosts its annual Spaghetti Dinner. 5 p.m., location TBD.

2016 election
Congress
Angie Craig endorsed by DFL Feminist Caucus, Star Tribune

President
Liberal Hispanic activists assail Rubio, Cruz as ‘traitors’ to their culture, Washington Post
Why Ted Cruz could have a real shot at the GOP nomination, MPR
What happened to Carly Fiorina? Washington Post
Nearby Trump, Rubio rallies a world apart, The Hill

Trump had a particularly nasty and tense rally in Las Vegas last night. “In some instances, there were chaotic physical confrontations,” Sean Sullivan wrote in a story that posted after 2 a.m. Eastern. “From the designated media work area, which is surrounded by barricades and which is where the campaign requires reporters to remain during events, altercations within the crowd could be heard. Buzzfeed reporter McKay Coppins posted brief videos on Twitter of security personnel seeking to physically remove individuals who appear to be protesters. In one exchange, several men are seen trying to remove a man on the ground who is yelling. ‘Light the m———-r on fire!’ another man is heard saying in that video, though it is not completely clear from the footage who is speaking at whom. … ‘We have a big night tomorrow,’ Trump said at the top of his remarks.” Washington Post
 
Affordable Care Act
Obamacare sign-ups could get bump as higher penalties kick in, MPR
 
Broadband
Broadband funding in political spotlight, Rochester Post Bulletin
 
Budget (federal)
Negotiators were nearing a deal last night on a year-end spending and tax package “that would increase domestic and military funding, lift the ban on crude oil exports and extend several tax breaks for businesses and individuals,” Kelsey Snell reports. Washington Post

• Disputes over funding levels seem to have been resolved but lawmakers are trying to work through the 50 policy riders wanted by Republicans.
• House Speaker Paul Ryan told Republicans last night that the deal “contains policy victories for the GOP, but not as many as lawmakers will want,” Politico reported, adding that GOP attempts to restrict the influx of Syrian and Iraqi refugees into the country will not be included.
• The current stopgap spending bill expires Wednesday, so lawmakers will likely pass another short-term measure to avoid the government shutting down. Ryan has promised his members three days to read the deal and is expected to brief them at a House GOP Conference meeting this morning.

Clinton, Hillary
Hillary Clinton comes to Minneapolis to lay out a more detailed plan on how to defeat Islamic state,Star Tribune
Clinton to cite Minnesota as model for combatting homegrown terrorism, Pioneer Press
Clinton to lay out counterterrorism strategy at U of M, KARE
 
Debate
So what time does Tuesday’s Republican debate start? CNN doesn’t seem to want you to know.Washington Post
How Marco Rubio is trying to connect with frustrated voters on the eve of the next debate,Washington Post
Time to get serious at debate, Christie says, Star Tribune
Showdown in Vegas: Trump, Cruz seek upper hand in crucial debate, The Hill

The three candidates with the most on the line tonight from the Washington Post:

• Ted Cruz: The Texas senator has been steadily climbing the polls in Iowa, and all his hard work — raising impressive amounts of cash, staying on message by railing against “the Washington cartel” and investing in voter-temperament technology — has apparently paid off.  The reliable Bloomberg/Des Moines Register poll has him at No. 1 in the state, a full 10 points above Donald Trump, even as other polls show Trump more competitive. In national polls, Cruz is second to Trump. But that means, for the first time in this race, Cruz has a very big target on his back, and in a debate with Trump, things can get nasty quickly.
• Ben Carson: At the previous debate in November, Carson was the guy with the target on his back. But since the Paris and San Bernardino, Calif., attacks have refocused the campaign on foreign policy and national security, Carson has dropped in the polls from second to fourth. (It didn’t help when one of his paid advisers told the New York Times that Carson can’t grasp “one iota of intelligent information about the Middle East.”) The Washington Post’s Jose DelReal says Carson now makes regular references to the Islamic State and his fact-finding trip to two Syrian refugee camps in Jordan. But can Carson convince Republican voters he knows what he’s talking about? His White House hopes probably depend on it.
• Rand Paul: The Kentucky senator got onto the main debate stage by the skin of his teeth; a poll at the last minute put him within the polling margins host CNN set for the main stage. (Though if you want to get technical about it, The Fix’s Philip Bump doesn’t think Paul’s numbers add up.)  But Paul’s libertarian-leaning campaign has failed to catch fire. Even though his campaign denies they’re looking at the door, it’s getting increasingly more difficult for Paul to justify to Kentucky voters why he’s still running for president when he’s also got a Senate seat to try to win again. He’ll need a great debate performance to make that case.DFL
  Caring with candy: Winona DFL members make treats for wounded vets, Winona Daily News
   
  Demographics
  The 10 most liberal and conservative cities in the U.S. — as judged by campaign donors, Washington Post
  Workers from South Central Asia are state’s most educated, highest-earning, MPR
   
  Department of Human Services
  Piper reorganizes DHS as new commissioner, Pioneer Press
  Can smaller be better for Minnesota human services department? Pioneer Press
   
  Education (higher)
  Indiana company ordered to pay back Minnesota students’ loans, MPR
   
  Ellison, Keith
  The most prominent Muslim elected official in America sees a ‘message of hope’ in Trump’s ‘weakness,’ Washington Post
   
  Environment
  Climate change has GOP, Dems on different planets, Star Tribune
  Regarding the Paris accord, one word: Displacement, Star Tribune
  Lessard-Sams council should sustain momentum on White Earth project, Star Tribune
   
  Franken, Al
  Al Franken to be honored by Writers Guild of America East, Variety
   
  Islamophobia
  Community gathers in Minneapolis to fight terrorism, Islamophobia, WCCO
  Minnesota Muslims talk of backlash against them, Star Tribune
  Gallery: Community meeting addresses Islamophobia, Star Tribune
   
  ISIS
  Obama addresses the nation on U.S. strategy against ISIS, MPR
  Series on jihadi recruitment for HBO will be set in Minnesota, MPR
  Obama says US hitting Islamic State group harder than ever; US commandos now in Syria, Star Tribune
   
  Labor
  AFSCME and University reach tentative contract agreement, Workday Minnesota
   
  Ness, Don
  Mayor’s view: Thanks ‘for the greatest honor and privilege of my life,’ Duluth News TribunePolls
  In face of criticism, Trump surges to his biggest lead over the GOP field, Washington Post
  Trump, Cruz leave others in dust in Iowa GOP Caucus, Quinnipiac University Poll finds; terrorism replaces economy as top voter concern, Quinnipiac University
  Americans name terrorism as No. 1 U.S. problem, Gallup
   
  Quie, Gretchen
  Gretchen Quie, opened governor’s house to public, dies at 88, Pioneer Press
   
  Racial justice
  For faith leaders, Minneapolis protests renew a mission, Star Tribune
   
  Vikings
  U.S. Bank Stadium 80 percent complete, sports facilities panel hears, Session Daily
  Vikings official tells lawmakers team enjoying ‘historic highs’ of TV share, Pioneer Press
  Vikings will help pay for park near new stadium, Star Tribune

  Voting
  Minnesota secretary of state wants to replace aging voting machines, Pioneer Press

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