In the Know

Feb. 16, 2016
220 days before people can begin to vote by no excuse absentee ballot, Sept. 23
265 days until Election Day, Nov. 8
14 days until DFL SD48 Caucus 

Events today

• 10 a.m. – The Senate Education Committee meets, Room 1100, Minnesota Senate Building.
• 11 a.m. – The House State Govt. Finance committee will hear an overview of veteran legislation from the 2015 session. Coon Rapids VFW, 1919 Coon Rapids Blvd NW, Coon Rapids.
• 11:30 a.m. – A group of House DFL representatives will unveil a proposal that aims to reduce health care costs and improve care for Minnesotans and their families. Room 181, State Office Building.
• 12:30 p.m. – Religious leaders, clergy, environmental  activists are calling on US Bank to end practices hazardous to local communities, including: financing  predatory  payday lenders who trap low-income communities of color in a  cycle of debt; funding dangerous tar sands oil pipelines that threaten our water, climate and Indigenous communities; and  engaging in unsound foreclosure practices, which dis-proportionately affect the children of families of color, broadening an  already significant achievement gap.
• 6 p.m. – The Select Committee on Affordable Child Care will hold a listening session at the Park Rapids Area Library, 210 1st St W, Park Rapids.

Precinct caucuses March 1

• 7 p.m. – Help spread the word that people can find their precinct caucus locations here.

Mark your calendars

• Feb. 18 – Vice President Joe Biden visits the St. Paul Depot.
• Feb. 18 – The South Hennepin County DFL Senior Caucus will meet from 12:30 – 2 p.m. at Davanni’s at 12th and Hennepin in Minneapolis. The speaker is Janet Conn from the National Association of Compassion and Choices.
• Feb. 21 – The DFL Disabilities Caucus will hold a membership meeting at Rondo Library, University and Dale, St. Paul from 1:30 to 3:30 pm, in the Youth Library Room. The Caucus will pass political resolutions, elect a Secretary, and discuss the Compassionate Care bill to be introduced in the MN Legislature this year.
• Feb. 22 – Rep. Jean Wagenius (DFL-Minneapolis) and other legislators will host a pollinator forum at 7 p.m. at Washburn High, 201 W 49th St., Minneapolis.
• 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. 25 – Forum News Service will host a unique preview of the Minnesota legislative session. Gov. Mark Dayton, Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, House Speaker Kurt Daudt, Senate Minority Leader David Hann and House Minority Leader Paul Thissen will sit at the same table to answer questions from Minnesota reporters.
• 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, 10 a.m., 3240 Library Ln, Minneapolis.
• March 6 – Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders will debate in Flint, Michigan.
• April 30 – CD 2 DFL Convention, 10:30 a.m., Shakopee West Junior High School, 200 10th Ave. E, Shakopee.
• April 30 – CD 7 DFL Convention, 1 p.m., Courtyard Marriott Hotel, 1080 28th Ave. S, Moorhead.
• May 7 – CD 5 DFL Convention, 10:30 a.m., South High School, 3131 S 19th Ave., Minneapolis.
• May 7 – CD 8 DFL Convention, 10 a.m., Duluth Holiday Inn, 200 W 1st St., Duluth.
• May 14 – CD 1 DFL Convention, 1 p.m., Worthington Event Center, 1447 Prairie Dr., Worthington.
• May 14 – CD 3 DFL Convention, 10:30 a.m., Osseo Senior High School, 317 2nd Ave. NW, Osseo.
• May 21 – CD 6 DFL Convention, noon, St. Cloud Apollo High School, 1000 44th Ave. N, St. Cloud.
• May 22 – CD 4 DFL Convention, noon, Carpenters Union Hall, 700 Olive St., St. Paul.

Fundraisers

• 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. 22 – The DFL Senate District 13, and in partnership with the College Democrats of the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University will host “An Evening with Secretary of State Steve Simon.” 6:30 p.m., Gorecki Conference Center on the campus of the College of St. Benedict. Space is limited, and tickets should be ordered in advance, by no later than Tuesday, Feb. 16.  Price is $30, with a special discounted price for students of $15.  If paid by check, please make payable to “DFL SD 13” and send to: Dennis Molitor, SD 13 Treasurer, 923 Parkview Lane, Sartell, MN 56377.  Or you may pay on-line by credit card, by clicking on this link:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening-with-secretary-of-state-steve-simon-tickets-21175533591
• 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 feather a buffet meal, silent and live auctions and speakers.

2016 election
Legislature
GOP House member from Cass County won’t seek re-election, Pioneer Press

President
Scalia’s death, the GOP debate and the hooey that’s followed, MinnPost
‘Like the final act of a horror film’: How the rest of the world sees the U.S. presidential campaign, MinnPost
Donald Trump unloads on Ted Cruz: ‘Liar,’ ‘dishonest’ and ‘unstable,’ Washington Post
In Nevada, a tightening race threatens Clinton’s post-New Hampshire ‘firewall,’ Washington Post
Trump threatens to sue Cruz unless his GOP rival apologizes, Star Tribune
Female lawmakers rally around Clinton, The Hill
Ralston: Nevada is no longer a ‘lock’ for Hillary Clinton, Washington Post

Black History Month
Black History Month profiles Josie Johnson, KARE
 
Coleman, Norm
Former Sen. Norm Coleman says odds of beating throat cancer are good, Pioneer Press
 
Cuba
US OKs first factory in Cuba since revolution, KSTP
 
Economy
Demand for I.T. workers may offer a way to close jobs gap, MPR
 
Education (E-12)
St. Paul teachers face question: How true to your school? Many teachers wouldn’t recommend their schools to parents, survey finds. Star Tribune
 
Elk
State DNR capturing elk to study habitat, raise profile of herds, MPR
 
GOP
Debate rips open GOP wounds, and party risks tearing itself apart, Washington Post

Labor
Minneapolis-St. Paul janitors set Wednesday strike, Pioneer Press
Twin Cities janitors call one-day strike for Wednesday, Star Tribune
Two groups of janitors to go on strike, Workday Minnesota
Hamline University adjuncts approve contract, Workday Minnesota
Adjunct faculty at Hamline University ratify first contract, MPR
Senate GOP, child care providers ask Dayton to halt union vote, Star Tribune
 
Minnesota Family Investment Program
More help is overdue for Minnesota’s poorest families, Star Tribune
 
South Carolina
Rubio hoping for breakout performance in South Carolina, The State
 
Supreme Court of the United States
Obama faces political puzzle in naming Scalia successor, Pioneer Press
Why Senate Republicans made a big mistake on the Scalia Supreme Court opening, Washington Post
Commentary: Unions could still lose Friedrichs – even if we win, Workday Minnesota
Klobuchar mentioned as possible Scalia replacement on Supreme Court, MPR
Obama won’t appoint Scalia replacement while Senate is out this week, MPR
Both Obama, Senate must do their duty, Star Tribune
The Supreme Court opening already made it into a Ted Cruz ad in South Carolina. A narrator rips Donald Trump as pro-choice. “Life, marriage, religious liberty, the Second Amendment. We’re just one Supreme Court justice away from losing them all,” the narrator says. CNN
As buzz about Sen. Amy Klobuchar being appointed to SCOTUS swirls, it isn’t true that Gov. Mark Dayton would be able to appoint a permanent replacement.  Via Sen. Terri Bonoff yesterday, the state Senate changed the law a few years ago. “A special election would be necessary to fill a vacancy if Senator Klobuchar leaves her office. The relevant statute is Minn. Stat. § 204D.28. Subdivision 6 tells us when a special election is required and says, “Every vacancy [in the Office of United States Senator] shall be filled for the remainder of the term by a special election held pursuant to this subdivision; except that no special election shall be held in the year before the term expires.” Since Senator Klobuchar holds her U.S. Senate office until 2019, a special election would be required to fill a vacancy in her office. If the vacancy occurs at least 11 weeks before the regular state primary this year, then the special primary and special election would be held with the regular primary and election. If the vacancy occurs less than 11 weeks before the regular primary, the special election would be held in November 2017.  The governor may make a temporary appointment to the office for the period of time between when the vacancy occurs and when a new Senator is elected and qualified. So, the appointee would only serve until the winner of the 2016 (or 2017) special election is qualified.” morning take
 
Taxes
Chamber wants an end to statewide business tax, Rochester Post Bulletin
 
Transportation
Doug Loon: Don’t waste opportunity to fund roads, bridges, transit, Pioneer Press
Minnesota lawmakers aim to wrap up transportation funding deal early, Pioneer Press
The short sighted transportation thinking of the GOP House, mnpACT!

University of Minnesota
UMN tuition target: $12,800 nonresident hike over four year, Pioneer Press

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