In the Know

Minnesota DFL
Jan. 10, 2014

Events today

• 9 a.m. – State Sen. Matt Schmit (DFL-Red Wing) continues his “Border to Border Broadband Tour.” Ortonville Economic Development Association, Ortonville Public Library, media center, 412 2nd St. N.W., Ortonville.
• Gov. Dayton will provide remarks at the annual Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Roundtable.
• 11 a.m. – News conference announcing filing of bill to continue Minnesota’s investment in early childhood education, close the achievement gap and build on the work done in 2013’s “Education Session.” State Office Building, Room 181.
• 11:30 a.m. – Gov. Dayton will hold a news conference in the Governor’s Reception Room with Commissioner Katie Clark Sieben to announce an initiative to grow jobs and help businesses expand in Minnesota.
• 1:30 – State Sen. Matt Schmit (DFL-Red Wing) continues his “Border to Border Broadband Tour.” Southwest Minnesota Regional Economic Development Commission, SWRDC Building, 2401 Broadway Ave., Suite 100, Slayton.
• 2:30 p.m. – U.S. Sen. Al Franken meets with unemployed Minnesotans and employment experts “to discuss the importance of unemployment insurance,” Griggs Midway Building in St. Paul.

 
2014 election
Legislature
Challengers get to work in House swing districts, Politics in Minnesota
Ward running for re-election, Brainerd Dispatch

Governor
Lt. Gov. Prettner Solon: Decision made on whether to rejoin ticket, Star Tribune
Lt. governor to announce her political future next week, MPR

GOP gubernatorial candidate Marty Seifert is getting around the state weighing in on some of the most controversial issues facing Minnesota. On Thursday, he spoke at a St. Louis Park community meeting to express “major concerns with the unaffordable and poorly developed options” for the Southwest Light Rail Transit. Next week, he plans to attend a public meeting to speak in favor of the proposed PolyMet copper nickel mine project in Hoyt Lakes. Star Tribune

U.S. House
Read plans Jan. 26 campaign kickoff, St. Cloud Times
Eight Dist. House race: Nolan duel with GOP ‘young gun’ heats up early, Star Tribune

On Monday, 2012 Republican U.S. Senate candidate Kurt Bills hosted a meet-and-greet at his home for Republican U.S. Rep. John Kline. The invite was notable because Bills was considered a Libertarian choice in his 2012 Republican race and Kline is being opposed by David Gerson, who some see as the Libertarian choice in the Second District Republican contest. Kline spokesman Troy Young said there was nothing unusual about the Bills event. “As he does leading up to caucus and campaign season, John has held a series of meetings around the Second District with supporters and activists,” Young said. Star Tribune

U.S. Senate
Dahlberg brings campaign to Brainerd, Brainerd Dispatch
McFadden reports $1.7 million on hand for Senate contest, MinnPost
McFadden reports $1.7 million to challenge Franken, Star Tribune
McFadden says he has $1.7 million on hand for race against Franken, MPR

U.S. Senate candidate Mike McFadden has been noticeably absent from Republican debates, according to opponents. On Thursday, the Rochester Post Bulletin reported McFadden would not join five other Senate candidates this month at a Tea Party debate in Rochester. “Any race is essentially a job interview with the voter. You must connect with them because it is essentially them who you will be working for,” said Waconia Mayor Jim Nash, who is Republican candidate Julianne Ortman’s campaign co-chair. Meanwhile, DFL Party Chair Ken Martin quipped in a pun-filled release: “Why did Mike McFadden cross the road? He’s too afraid to debate!” But McFadden spokesman Tom Erickson shrugged off the criticism. “Mike McFadden isn’t running against other Republicans,” he said. “He’s running against Al Franken. “ Star Tribune

2014 session
Senate bonding committee launches website, Build.MN, ECM
 
2016 election
Christie jam opens lane for other 2016 hopefuls, The Hill
 
Agriculture
Farm bill in trouble, Politico
 
Capitol complex – security
Capitol security panel recommends changes, MPR
 
Christie, Chris
Christie: ‘I am embarrassed, humiliated,’ The Hill
Christie: I am not a bully, The Hill
Dem from NJ: ‘The truth shall be known’, The Hill
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie battles for his political future, Star Tribune
Chris Christie’s bridge over troubled politics, Star Tribune
How a local reporter broke the Christie story, MSNBC
Analysis: Bridge scandal may hurt Christie’s brand, KSTP
 
Congress
Half of Congress members are millionaires, report says, New York Times
 
Congressional delegation
Bachmann
‘Bachmann Abbey’ photo shows Michele Bachmann’s family doing their best imitation of the Crawleys, Huffington Post

Nolan
In a letter sent to U.S. House Speaker John Boehner on Thursday, U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan joined the 48 freshman House Democrats calling for an immediate vote to extend emergency unemployment to 1.3 million Americans who lost their benefits at the end of 2013. “Our constituents elected us to Congress to tackle the critical issues facing the country. It’s time for Congress to govern and act and not leave these people behind,” part of the letter reads. Legislation is under consideration in the U.S. Senate, but Boehner has made no promises about holding a vote in the House. Star Tribune

Paulsen
Paulsen touts small BREW Act at Lucid Brewing, Patch
 
Economy
Economy adds just 74K jobs, The Hill
US jobless rate falls, but job creation is weak, MPR
 
Education (early)
Early education efforts promoted, Pioneer Press
 
Environment
Protecting Great Lakes from Asian carp: Corps sees long waits and high costs, MinnPost
 
Friday funny
@tptAlmanac, Twin Cities Public Television’s public affairs show, on Twitter:
#thisdayinmnhistory On Jan 9, 1901 retiring MN Gov John Lind left office, went to @PioneerPress Bldg + punched editor in the nose”
 
Gaming
Gaming critics blast Minnesota lottery’s online expansion plans, Star Tribune
Online lottery tickets could go on sale soon, MPR
 
GOP
Republicans keep repeating themselves, Brainerd Dispatch
House GOP leader ends up in handcuffs after truck sale gone wrong, KSTP

Morning Take take on the proposed new criteria for candidates to earn the GOP endorsement: It is very clear that the changes are being considered to protect Rep. John Kline who faces a stiff endorsement challenge from David Gerson. The Downey concept could create more tension within GOP factions entering the statewide caucuses.

Health
Fairview restricts visitors to fight flu at its six Minnesota hospitals, Star Tribune
 
Food stamps
Jane Freeman, widow of food stamp founder, discusses the ‘need and the embarrassment’, Huffington Post
Doctors say that cutting fund stamps could backfire, Star Tribune

Health care
University of Minnesota medical officials warn of crunch in residencies, MPR
 
Labor
AFSCME filing suggests taxpayer money went to organizing, union blames bookkeeping error, Pioneer Press
 
Marijuana
Statewide law-enforcement groups not budging on medical marijuana bill, MinnPost
SCSU Survey: Most Minnesotans want to legalize medical marijuana, St. Cloud Times

Minneapolis
The new mayor of Minneapolis gave a hilarious live play-by-play of the ‘Die Hard’ movie, Business Insider
MNsure
MNsure’s rocky rollout: It’s blame-game time, MinnPost
MNsure’s latest concern: Will taxpayer money be needed to shore up future costs, Pioneer Press
Lawmakers blast MNsure’s troubled website, Star Tribune
Legislative auditor: MNsure oversight, accountability ‘top priority’, MPR
Lawmakers grill MNsure leaders during oversight committee meeting, KSTP
 
Recycling
MPCA: Container refund would boost recycling, jobs, Pioneer Press
 
Safe and Supportive Schools Act
Religious group calls Minnesota safe schools bill ‘child exploitation,’ TC Daily Planet
 
Target
Target: Data breach now involves at least 70 million people, MPR
 
Taxes
Stop the crocodile tears for MN’s highest income households, Minnesota 2020
 
Technology
Lawmaker addresses Internet problems in rural Minnesota, St. Cloud Times
 
Transportation
St. Louis Park residents skeptical about Southwest light rail plans, Star Tribune
 
Unemployment insurance
Unemployment talks stall in Senate, The Hill
Minn. Democrats mount surge to extend jobless benefits, MPR
 
U.S. Attorney
Senate panel clears Luger for Minnesota U.S. Attorney, Star Tribune
 
Vikings stadium
Stadium Q & A session ends quickly with few questions, Star Tribune
 
War on Poverty
The female face of poverty, The Atlantic
Maybe the War on Poverty was the wrong metaphor, MinnPost
Many Americans struggle in poverty, according to new Census data, Minnesota Budget Project

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