178 days until people can begin to vote by no excuse absentee ballot, Sept. 23
234 days until Election Day, Nov. 8

Mark your calendars

• March 29 – 9 a.m. – Sen Franken’s staff will hold a meeting as part of the “Prescription Drug Cost Listening Tour” in communities across the state to collect stories from older Minnesotans who have been hard hit by skyrocketing prices of prescription drugs. Essentia Clinic, 4855 West Arrowhead Rd, Duluth.
• March 29 – 1:30 p.m. – Sen Franken’s staff will hold a meeting as part of the “Prescription Drug Cost Listening Tour” in communities across the state to collect stories from older Minnesotans who have been hard hit by skyrocketing prices of prescription drugs. Senior Dining, 313 Elm Ave., Moose Lake.
• March 29 – “Chaos or Coherence? Foreign Policy Challenges for the Next President,” a discussion with Sen. Amy Klobuchar. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, U of M. Luncheon 11:30 a.m., panel discussion 12:15 p.m. Learn morehere.
• March 29 – Minnesota Department of Human Services Commissioner Emily Piper and Health Commissioner Dr. Ed Ehlinger will visit Bemidji to highlight a proposal in Governor Mark Dayton’s capital budget that will increase access to dental care for low-income families and create jobs in northwestern Minnesota. As the only community clinic in the region, Northern Dental Access Center serves more than 1,200 uninsured and underinsured patients each month, many of whom travel over 100 miles to access the center’s services. 11 a.m., Northern Dental Access Center, 1405 Anne St. NW, Bemidji.
• March 30 – The Congressional District 2 DFL and DFL Senior Caucus will co-host a “Day on the Hill” from 8:30 a.m. The event, which is free and open to anyone, will be held at the AFL-CIO, 175 Auora St., St. Paul. Scheduled speakers include Sen. John Marty (DFL-Roseville), Sen. Matt Schmit (DFL-Red Wing), Sen. Susan Kent (DFL-Woodbury), Rep. Frank Hornstein (DFL-Minneapolis), Leili Fatehi, and Lee Graczyk. Participants are urged to set up appointments to meet with their legislators in their legislators’ office between 1 and 3 p.m.
• March 31 – The DFL will host a VAN webinar training session at 3 p.m. The sign up form is found here. For more information contact Michael Crusinberry, date file manager, at .
• April 2 – Gov. Dayton will attend a Somali cultural event at St. Cloud State University. The event is part of a series of cultural festivals presented by St. Cloud State students and seeks to bring together the Somali and greater St. Cloud communities. The show, in the Atwood Memorial Center ballroom, will feature traditional dances, poems, fashion show, talent show and speeches by members of Minnesota’s Somali community.
• April 30 – CD 2 DFL Convention, 10:30 a.m., Shakopee West Junior High School, 200 10^th Ave. E, Shakopee.
• April 30 – CD 7 DFL Convention, 1 p.m., Courtyard Marriott Hotel, 1080 28^th Ave. S, Moorhead.
• May 7 – CD 5 DFL Convention, 10:30 a.m., South High School, 3131 S 19^th Ave., Minneapolis.
• May 7 – CD 8 DFL Convention, 10 a.m., Duluth Holiday Inn, 200 W 1^st 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 2^nd Ave. NW, Osseo.
• May 21 – CD 6 DFL Convention, noon, St. Cloud Apollo High School, 1000 44^th Ave. N, St. Cloud.
• May 22 – CD 4 DFL Convention, noon, Carpenters Union Hall, 700 Olive St., St. Paul.

 

Fundraisers

• March 31 – Womenwinning will host a fundraiser for Sen. Klobuchar featuring Sen. Gillibrand. 5 – 7 p.m., Women’s Club, 410 Oak Grove St., Minneapolis. Email  for more info.
• April 10 – The Winona County DFL will host its 2016 Banquet at the Westfield Golf Club, 1460 W 5th St., Winona. Tickets, which include dinner (chicken, prime rib or vegetarian lasagna), speakers and a silent auction, are $50. Checks, made out to the Winona County DFL, can be sent to DFL, 685 West 5th St., Winona, MN 55987. Please indicate your dinner choice.

2016 election
Legislature
Tim Nelson has her vote for District 32, Isanti County News

I [Patrick Coolican] had lunch with Senate Minority Leader David Hann last week, and he was bullish on the GOP’s chances in the upper chamber, pointing to nine districts that Jeff Johnson won in the 2014 Dayton re-elect, plus six districts where Republicans control both House seats, which are all Romney districts. They need to flip all six, or assuming Sen. Rod Skoe is safe, then they need to pick up one elsewhere. Given that many of the races are outstate, Hann thinks a Trump nomination hurts GOP Senate chances less than if the battle were more in the suburbs. After the 2012 bloodbath, the remaining Republicans should be relatively safe. So the playing field is tilted toward Hann. He also likes his recruits, including some mayors, especially Jeffrey Lunde from Brooklyn Park. He said several DFL incumbents elected in 2012 were involved in the caucus campaign finance scandal that led to the DFL caucus paying a huge fine and would play this year. (But maybe that was a smokescreen because surely they aren’t going to run a campaign on a complicated campaign finance story?) Finally, they hope and expect to see national money flow in. On the one hand, with no statewide race, this seems plausible. On the other hand, with Trump threatening Republicans down ballot, the big money may feel the need to protect what they have, e.g., the Minnesota House. A DFL player continues to insist to me that Hann is right, that the Senate is going to be a tough fight. We shall see. Star Tribune

U.S. House
War on coal by Democrats means war on ore, Mesabi Daily News

President
Bird interrupts Bernie Sanders’ speech, sparks #BirdieSanders memes, Star Tribune
Black women who boosted Obama are sticking with Clinton, Star Tribune
Candidates who have dropped out of race face long, hard fall, The Hill
US election 2016: The 40-year hurt, BBC News
Polls suggest Kasich has best chance of beating Clinton, Politico
Sanders wins 3 states; Clinton retains big delegate lead, Star Tribune
Big wins give Sanders a boost, The Hill
Anti-Trump forces seize on grim polls for Clinton match-up, The Hill
Bernie Sanders sweeps caucuses in Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, MPR
Al Franken as VP?, MPR
The case for Vice President Al Franken, Politico
Tawdry tenor of race a source of shame for some Republicans, Star Tribune
Despite the math, Bernie Sanders has already won, MPR
Bernie Sanders lays out his requirements for endorsing Hillary Clinton, Huffington Post

Though Clinton remains the overwhelming front-runner to win the Democratic nomination, the results give Sanders a rationale to continue fighting through July and underscore lingering unease among base voters about the woman who will almost certainly be their standard bearer in the fall. Sanders reiterated Sunday that he will not go quietly. Chuck Todd noted on “Meet the Press” that Sanders used to chastise his crowds whenever they booed Clinton. But the last time he did that was on Feb. 23. Asked why, Sanders said “no reason at all” before launching into an extended broadside against Clinton, from Iraq to Wall Street to fracking and campaign finance. Then he challenged her to agree to an additional debate. Washington Post

After 40+ point wins in Hawaii, Alaska and, most importantly, Washington, Bernie Sanders is riding high. But he’s not high enough in the delegate count to catch Hillary Clinton without some kind of shake-up. That’s why Sanders is now pressing for one more debate before New York’s April 19 primary, on Clinton’s own home turf. Sanders’ campaign manager, Jeff Weaver, made the request ina letter to Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook on Sunday. “Perhaps there is some tactical advantage you are seeking by avoiding a debate in New York, but I would remind you that Sen. Sanders agreed to debate the secretary in New Hampshire when he was well ahead in the polls,” Weaver wrote. CNN

2016 session
Capitol Catch-Up: Lawmakers got something done and then left town, Pioneer Press
Iron Range divide may spill into session, WCCO 

Appleton prison
Dayton opens doors to buying private Minnesota prison, someday, Detroit Lakes

Cruz, Ted
Ted Cruz calls tabloid report on alleged affairs ‘garbage,’ NBC News
Cruz says National Enquirer story is ‘garbage’ from ‘Trump and his henchmen,’ Star Tribune
Trump aide fulfills threat to ‘spill the beans’ on Heidi Cruz, The Hill
Why might Ted Cruz win the Republican nomination at the convention? Because he won Iowa.Washington Post
The remarkable CNN exchange that took the Ted Cruz affair rumors from the tabloids into the mainstream, Washington Post

Cuba
Klobuchar keeps working to lift Cuba embargo, KSTP

DFL
Rural Democrats have been effective leaders for Greater Minnesota, Faribault Daily News
Becker County DFL elects officers, directors, delegates, Detroit Lakes Online

Democratic National Convention
Even if Hillary gets the nomination on the first ballot, the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia could be contentious. Or, at the very least, not the coronation that Denver was in 2008. The nastiness and coarseness of the attacks on the Republican side continue to overshadow the Democratic race. We talk constantly about the contested Republican convention in Cleveland. But Sanders’s willingness to go after Clinton even as the race becomes mathematically more difficult to win suggests that he and his supporters could make a scene.

Clinton still has a huge lead in the delegate hunt. She leads 1,243 to 975 among pledged delegates. When you factor in committed super delegates, she’s ahead 1,712 to 1,004. Washington Post

Equality
Governor vows to veto bill restricting transgender bathroom use, KARE 

 

GOP
GOP faces hurdles if it runs an anti-Trump third-party candidate, The Hill

Labor
Iron Rangers finally get aid they need in face of economic downturn, Star Tribune
Miner achievement: Legislature extends unemployment benefits for Iron Range workers, MinnPost
DFL takes battle over paid family leave to Minnesota Capitol, Star Tribune
Ruling backs fired Jimmy John’s workers in Twin Cities labor dispute, Star Tribune

Lobbying
Governments spend millions lobbying government, Star Tribune

Muslims
Minnesota GOP leader breaks with Trump, Cruz on Muslims, Star Tribune

New York
Could Trump turn New York red? The Hill
Sanders sharpens attacks for N.Y. showdown that may dash Clinton’s unity hopes, Washington Post

Pakistan
Explosion at park in Lahore, Pakistan, kills at least 70, MPR

Presidential primary
A presidential primary in Minnesota? Done it; here’s the history, Star Tribune

Republican National Convention
Cleveland readies for protests ahead of potentially volatile GOP convention, MPR
Three scenarios for Republicans’ path to Cleveland, Star Tribune

Smith, Tina
Lt. Gov. Tina Smith on Minnesota’s gifts and challenges, MPR

Transportation
Gov. Dayton to view aftermath of train-truck collision in Callaway, Star Tribune
The east metro ruckus over $485 million Gold Line is getting louder, Pioneer Press
Dayton stresses statewide rail safety in visit to recent train derailment site in Callaway, KSTP
Governor Mark Dayton in Callaway Saturday assessing the damage and meeting those affected,WDAY

Trump
Wrong number? Trump’s TV telephone interviews in spotlight, Star Tribune
For one week, at least, Trump is running a ‘low-energy’ campaign, Washington Post

 

Voting
St. Paul voter turnout is in free fall. Are even-year elections the answer? Pioneer Press

Wisconsin
Wisconsin-based ‘Cheesehead Revolution’ challenged by Trump, Star Tribune
Trump ready to visit Wisconsin, but Cruz has a head start, Stat Tribune

Mark your calendars

• March 29 – 9 a.m. – Sen Franken’s staff will hold a meeting as part of the “Prescription Drug Cost Listening Tour” in communities across the state to collect stories from older Minnesotans who have been hard hit by skyrocketing prices of prescription drugs. Essentia Clinic, 4855 West Arrowhead Rd, Duluth.
• March 29 – 1:30 p.m. – Sen Franken’s staff will hold a meeting as part of the “Prescription Drug Cost Listening Tour” in communities across the state to collect stories from older Minnesotans who have been hard hit by skyrocketing prices of prescription drugs. Senior Dining, 313 Elm Ave., Moose Lake.
• March 29 – “Chaos or Coherence? Foreign Policy Challenges for the Next President,” a discussion with Sen. Amy Klobuchar. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, U of M. Luncheon 11:30 a.m., panel discussion 12:15 p.m. Learn more here.
• March 29 – Minnesota Department of Human Services Commissioner Emily Piper and Health Commissioner Dr. Ed Ehlinger will visit Bemidji to highlight a proposal in Governor Mark Dayton’s capital budget that will increase access to dental care for low-income families and create jobs in northwestern Minnesota. As the only community clinic in the region, Northern Dental Access Center serves more than 1,200 uninsured and underinsured patients each month, many of whom travel over 100 miles to access the center’s services. 11 a.m., Northern Dental Access Center, 1405 Anne St. NW, Bemidji.
• March 30 – The Congressional District 2 DFL and DFL Senior Caucus will co-host a “Day on the Hill” from 8:30 a.m. The event, which is free and open to anyone, will be held at the AFL-CIO, 175 Auora St., St. Paul. Scheduled speakers include Sen. John Marty (DFL-Roseville), Sen. Matt Schmit (DFL-Red Wing), Sen. Susan Kent (DFL-Woodbury), Rep. Frank Hornstein (DFL-Minneapolis), Leili Fatehi, and Lee Graczyk. Participants are urged to set up appointments to meet with their legislators in their legislators’ office between 1 and 3 p.m.
• March 31 – The DFL will host a VAN webinar training session at 3 p.m. The sign up form is found here. For more information contact Michael Crusinberry, date file manager, at.
• April 2 – Gov. Dayton will attend a Somali cultural event at St. Cloud State University. The event is part of a series of cultural festivals presented by St. Cloud State students and seeks to bring together the Somali and greater St. Cloud communities. The show, in the Atwood Memorial Center ballroom, will feature traditional dances, poems, fashion show, talent show and speeches by members of Minnesota’s Somali community.
• May 14 – CD 3 DFL Convention, 10:30 a.m., Osseo Senior High School, 317 2^nd Ave. NW, Osseo.

Fundraisers

• March 31 – Womenwinning will host a fundraiser for Sen. Klobuchar featuring Sen. Gillibrand. 5 – 7 p.m., Women’s Club, 410 Oak Grove St., Minneapolis. Email  for more info. 

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