In the Know

Minnesota DFL
Feb. 4, 2016
232 days before people can begin to vote by no excuse absentee ballot, Sept. 23
277 days until Election Day, Nov. 8
26 Days until DFL SD48 Caucus
 
Events today

• Gov. Dayton will travel to Washington, D.C. for a meeting with U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, and Sen. Al Franken regarding direct flights between Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and Tokyo, Japan.
• 10 a.m. – House DFL Leader Paul Thissen, House Deputy Leader Melissa Hortman (DFL –Brooklyn Park), State Rep. Laurie Halverson (DFL – Eagan) and other House DFL legislators will hold a press conference to unveil new campaign finance reform proposal to increase transparency in Minnesota elections. Room 181, State Office Building.

Mark your calendars

• Feb. 6 – Nurses employed by Allina Health will rally Saturday as they go into contract negotiations. Other nurses and supporters are expected to participate in the solidarity rally that will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Ramada Plaza, 330 Industrial Boulevard, Minneapolis. The rally is organized by the Minnesota Nurses Association.
• Feb. 6 – Republicans debate at St. Anselm College on ABC the Saturday night before the New Hampshire primary.
• Feb. 9 – Worker Voice Regional Summit with US Secretary of Labor Tom Perez and local leaders 11 a.m., MLK Park Building, 4055 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis. Join United States Secretary of Labor Perez and local leaders for the first Regional Worker Voice Summit. Regional Summits are focused on bringing together seasoned and emerging leaders from across the country who are lifting up workers’ voices to be active participants in this conversation. Learn more and RSVP here.
• Feb. 9 – The New Hampshire primary.
• Feb. 9 – Senate District 35 special election. Roger Johnson is the DFL-endorsed candidate.
• Feb. 9 – House District 50B special election. Andrew Carlson is the DFL-endorsed candidate.
• Feb. 9 – North Metro Chapter of the DFL Senior Caucus will meet at 11:30 at the Little Venetian Inn, Little Canada, to hear a presentation on the Compassionate Care legislation that is currently pending in the Minnesota legislature. Sen. Chris Eaton, the Senate bill author, and Dr. Rebecca Thoman will speak at the event.
• Feb. 11 – Democrats debate in Wisconsin, to air on PBS.
• Feb. 13 – Republicans debate in South Carolina on CBS.
• Feb. 25 – Secretary of State Steve Simon will host the “Secretary’s State on the State of Elections” at noonat the Wellstone Neighborhood House, St. Paul. After the speech, participants can attend one of two workshops, “What happens at a precinct caucus,” or “Building the next generation of poll workers.” For more information, click here.
• Feb. 26 – Republicans debate in Houston on NBC. The co-sponsors are Telemundo and National Review.
• Feb. 27 – The DFL African American Caucus will meet. Location TBD.

Fundraisers

• Feb. 6 – The Brooklyn Park DFL will host a GOP debate watching party. 7 p.m. Kelly’s Ninth Hole, 8432 Noble Ave. N, Brooklyn Park. Suggested donation is $10.
• Feb. 19 – Congressional District 5 DFL will host its Heart of the Party fundraiser. 7 p.m., 301 on Main, Minneapolis. There is free parking adjacent to the building in an open surface lot. Tickets are $35.
• Feb. 27 – SD36 DFL Fundraiser and Elections Pre-Caucus Rally. North Hennepin Community College, College of Business & Technology, Grand Hall, 7411 85th Ave N, Brooklyn Park. Participants will discuss the importance of Elections in Minnesota and your local Senate District. Keynote speakers are Minnesota Secretary of State,
  Steve Simon and Minnesota Human Rights Commissioner Kevin Lindsey. Suggested donation $20. All donations appreciated. Please RSVP with Reva Chamblis at or call Reva at .
• March 12 – Senate District 63 DFL hosts its annual Spaghetti Dinner. 5 p.m., Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church, 4120 17th Ave. S, Minneapolis.
• March 12 – The Senate District 16 DFL fundraiser will be held at Jackpot Junction, Morton. It kicks off at 5 p.m. and will feature a buffet meal, silent and live auctions and speakers.

2016 election
Legislature
Third candidate steps forward in House 6A race, Northland News Center
Rep. Dan Schoen will run for seat being vacated by Sen. Katie Sieben, Star Tribune
 
President
Ted Cruz and Bernie Sanders had a good caucus. But primaries are another matter. Washington Post
Trump calls for Iowa do-over, says Cruz stole election, MPR
Donald Trump accuses Ted Cruz of stealing Iowa — and demands new caucuses, Washington Post
Rand Paul drops out of presidential race, Star Tribune
Rick Santorum drops presidential bid, endorses Marco Rubio, CNN
Should Bernie Sanders get credit for making the Democratic party more liberal? Washington Post
Iowa’s young voters fell in love with Bernie, MinnPost
Why Marco Rubio now has the best chance of winning the GOP nomination, Washington Post
Cruz disrupts Senate from campaign trail, ABC News
Army of Clinton staffers leave Brooklyn headquarters to aid in New Hampshire, Washington Post
Iowa revealed the three themes that define the 2016 campaign, Washington Post
Clinton defends progressive record against Sanders critique, Star Tribune
Female senators urge Warren: Back Hillary Clinton, The Hill
Rubio overtakes Bush in endorsements, The Hill
Inside Rand Paul’s slow-motion collapse, Politico
Signs of ‘Marco-mentum’ for Rubio in New Hampshire, MPR
Chelsea Clinton campaigns for mom in Minnesota, MPR

The Republican field is two candidates smaller than it was yesterday, and the survivors are talking lawsuit. Ben Carson is attacking Ted Cruz, who is attacking Donald Trump, who is attacking Ted Cruz. Contenders who called each other “good friends” last month now have new language to describe their pals: “Hysterical.” “Fragile.” “Unhinged.” Washington Post

Ted Cruz won the Iowa caucuses because evangelicals turned out in record numbers and broke his way in the final days. For the Texas senator to win in South Carolina, he’ll need that to happen again. But the Cruz campaign, full of bare-knuckled operatives who pride themselves on their take-no-prisoners approach to politics, might have poisoned the well. In the hours before Monday’s vote, his campaign circulated rumors that Ben Carson was planning to drop out. This incensed the normally mild-mannered retired neurosurgeon, who had reacted with surprising equanimity in the face of Donald Trump’s vicious attacks last fall. His wife Candy was also visibly upset when she had to deny the rumor at a caucus site. Washington Post
 
Marco Rubio, who actually endorsed and campaigned for Huckabee when he was a Florida state legislator in 2008, promises not to cede this group to Cruz. As he tries to position himself as the “bridge” candidate for the nomination, today he will roll out endorsements from Arkansans who have been aligned with Huckabee, including Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin. Reps. Steve Womack and Rick Crawford are also endorsing him. Arkansas is one of the states voting on March 1 in the so-called SEC primary. Washington Post

Rand Paul’s favorite recent descriptions of Donald Trump: (Washington Post)

• “delusional narcissist”
• “orange-faced windbag”
• like Nazi propaganda leader Joseph Goebbels
• like Gollum, from Lord of the Rings

2016 session
Ready or not, Minnesota’s 2016 legislative session has already begun, MinnPost
Our View: As the legislative session nears, it’s time to start discussing issues, Rochester Post Bulletin
 
2016 special elections
Endorsements: Go with experience in Bloomington, Anoka County special elections, Star Tribune
 
2016 special session
Minnesota leaders blame each other over special session failure, Fargo Forum
 
America’s Muslims
As Obama visits a mosque, a look at America’s Muslims, MPR
Obama visits mosque in U.S. for first time during his presidency, MPR
Obama, Thomas Jefferson and the fascinating history of Founding Fathers defending Muslim rights,Washington Post
Obama slams ‘inexcusable’ anti-Muslim rhetoric at Baltimore mosque, The Hill
Trump on Obama mosque visit: ‘Maybe he feels comfortable there,’ CNN

Broadband
Task force recommends $200 million for rural broadband access, Star Tribune
 
Budget (state)
State rainy day funds: Purpose and definition Pew Charitable Trusts
 
Debates
The DNC is adding four sanctioned debates. Point, Hillary Clinton. Washington Post
 
Democratic town hall
6 takeaways from CNN’s Democratic town hall, CNN
Sanders, Clinton answer NH town hall questions, Star Tribune
Hillary Clinton opens up about running for president: ‘This is hard for me,’ Washington Post
 
Energy
SW Minnesota solar farm plan feels opponents’ heat, MPR
 
Environment
The first hearing on the Flint water crisis was heated and emotional. Here are 6 key moments. Washington Post
 
GOP
Barack Obama’s presidency has been a very good thing for Republicans, Washington Post
 
MNsure
MNsure audit prompts call for better insurance checks, Star Tribune
Committee discusses report related to alleged improper MNsure payments, Session Daily

Nolan, Rick
We should be proud to have Rick Nolan in Washington, Isanti County News
 
Polls
Why Iowa polls were wrong, USA Today
 
Precinct caucuses
What the Iowa results mean for Minnesota’s GOP caucuses, MinnPost

Racial disparities
Charlie Weaver: Address Minnesota’s racial disparities, Pioneer Press
MnSCU focused on poverty, Pioneer Press
 
Transportation
Minnesota political leaders push Obama administration to help preserve MSP-Tokyo route, Star Tribune
Elizabeth Brailsford: Tokyo flight has high stakes for Minnesotans, Pioneer Press

Voting
Our View: New voter birthday wishes have merit, Rochester Post Bulletin

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