In the Know

Minnesota DFL
April 14, 2016
161 days until people can begin to vote by no excuse absentee ballot, Sept. 23
207 days until Election Day, Nov. 8
 
Events today

• Gov. Dayton and Lt. Gov. Smith will have breakfast with GOP legislative leaders at the Governor’s Residence.
• Twin Cities workers will join in a nationwide strike in the fast food industry to demand a $15 minimum wage, paid sick days and a voice in the workplace.
• 9 a.m. – Lt. Gov. Smith and Transportation Commissioner Zelle will hold a news conference to announce the start of the 2016 road and bridge construction season. MnDOT Headquarters, Conference Room G22, 395 John Ireland Blvd. St. Paul.
• 11 a.m. – The Senate meets in session.
• 11:30 a.m. – Lt. Gov. Tina Smith visit St. Cloud to hold a conversation on Gov. Dayton’s proposed bonding bill. The focus of the discussion will be the Eastman Hall renovation into a Student Health and Academic Center at St. Cloud State University, which received funding in the Governor’s bill. To raise awareness and support of this project, the discussion will include why the funding is needed, the importance of the project to St. Cloud State students and the school, and what this project means for the region as a whole. Eastman Hall on the St. Cloud State Campus, 850 1st Ave. S, St. Cloud.
• 2 p.m. – Gov. Dayton will chair a meeting of the Capitol Preservation Commission. Fifth Floor Conference Room, Veterans Service Building, 20 W 12th St., St. Paul.
• 4 p.m. – The House meets in session.
• 4:45 p.m. – Lt. Gov. Smith will provide remarks at the Minnesota Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America State Conference. DoubleTree Hotel, 2nd Ballroom, 7800 Normandale Blvd., Minneapolis.
• 8 p.m. – Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders will debate in New York. It will air on CNN.

Mark your calendars

• April 20 – DFL Chairman Ken Martin will speak to Congressional District 3 DFL seniors at 11:30 a.m. at NW Community Television center, 6900 Winnetka Ave. N., Brooklyn Park.
• April 23 – DFL African-American Caucus will meet at 10 a.m. at Penn Lake Library, 8800 Penn Ave S., Minneapolis.
• April 26 – Sen. Franken’s “Rural Education Tour,” aimed at learning more about the challenges rural educators face to ensure that students in rural communities have access to high quality education, will be held at 1 p.m. at the Northeast Service Cooperative, 5525 Emerald Ave., Mt. Iron.
• April 28 – Sen. Franken’s “Rural Education Tour,” aimed at learning more about the challenges rural educators face to ensure that students in rural communities have access to high quality education, will be held at 2 p.m. at the Lakes Country Service Cooperative, 1001 E. Mt. Faith, Fergus Falls.
• 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., Park Center High School auditorium, 7377 Noble Ave N, Brooklyn Park.
• 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

• April 20 – To expand its mission to restore an equality-minded DFL majority in the Minnesota House of Representatives and maintain a DFL majority in the Senate, the Stonewall DFL Caucus will hold a “United for Victory!” The event will feature Minnesota State Auditor Rebecca Otto and Shawn Otto and their special friends, Jack Baker and Michael McConnell. In 1971, Baker and McConnell became the first legally married same-sex couple in America. They will sign copies of their book, “The Wedding Heard ‘Round the World,” at the event. The fundraiser will be held at the home of Lowell Pickett and Karen Sternal, 117 Portland Ave., Unit 710, Minneapolis, from 6 – 8 p.m. To RSVP contact rebeccaotto.com/stonewell or .
• May 1 – Senate District 51 True Blue Celebration. 2 p.m., Eagan Civic Arena, 3870 Pilot Knob Rd, Eagan.
• May 21 – Congressional District 6 will hold a Red to Blue Post-Convention Party. $20 Suggested Donation. Michael’s Restaurant, 510 US-10, St Cloud. Tickets available at: http://www.eventbrite.com/o/dfl-senate-district-14-3077414154

2016 election
Stassen-Berger: Presidential race trickles down…maybe, Pioneer Press

Congress
Despite some modest success at governance, Republican majorities on Capitol Hill are imperiled because the tone and proposals coming from GOP presidential contenders have terrified independent voters in key battlegrounds. The Hill #math: seven Senate Republicans are seeking reelection in states that President Obama won twice, and at least three other GOP seats may be very competitive. If Republicans were to capture the White House, McConnell can only afford to lose four seats. If his party’s presidential nominee falls short, he can lose just three. Washington Post

President
Bernie Sanders picks up first endorsement from a Senate colleague, MPR
 
2016 session
Assessing the session at the half-way mark, Star Tribune
Lawmakers accomplish little so far, Alexandria Echo Press
 
Appleton prison
Outlook is bleak for reopening of private prison in Appleton, Star Tribune
 
Broadband
House GOP: Schools, rural Minnesota need broadband most, Star Tribune
3 broadband plans, little agreement at the Capitol, MPR
Minnesota broadband expansion plan includes take-home wi-fi hotspots for students, Fox 9
 
Budget (federal)
GOP comes to terms with prospect of no budget, The Hill
 
Budget (state)
Senate DFL budget plan sets up clash with House GOP MPR
Senate DFL outlines $789 million supplemental budget proposal, Star Tribune
Budget plans push Legislature back toward gridlock, KSTP
Senate DFL eyes surplus for education, equity and broadband, Pioneer Press
Lawmakers headed on collision course over surplus, WCCO
Minnesota lawmakers ready to get down to budget specifics, Duluth News Tribune
 
Cruz, Ted
Cruz on Trump campaign: ‘They’re acting like union boss thugs,’ CNN
Cruz on Rubio for VP: ‘You’d be a fool not to consider him,’ The Hill
 
Debate
5 things to watch for in the Democratic debate, The Hill
 
DFL
Crow Wing DFL votes on resolutions, Brainerd Dispatch
 
Ellison, Keith
US Rep Ellison responds to ISIS magazine threat, KSTP
Rep. Ellison gets death threat from Islamic terrorist group’s magazine, Star Tribune
Congressman Keith Ellison threatened by ISIS, MPR
After death threat, Keith Ellison slams ISIS, Pioneer Press
Rep. Ellison responds to threat in ISIS propaganda, WCCO
 
Food deserts
Study: Many Minnesotans face long trips to buy fresh food, MPR
Minnesota among 10 worst states for access to healthy, fresh food, Star Tribune

Labor
Tens of thousands of Verizon workers went out on strike yesterday in hopes of pressuring the telecomm company to limit outsourcing and improve working conditions. The massive strike could interrupt service for customers across the country who subscribe to Verizon’s wired services, although Verizon has said it has trained thousands of temporary replacements to weather the coming storm, reports Brian Fung. “The strike comes as workers’ contract negotiations have been stalled for months … Verizon said that outdated contract provisions effectively prevent the company from adapting to new technology.” Washington Post
 
Maryland
Ahead of Maryland’s April 26 primary, Clinton and Sanders are both airing ads in the state that invoke the deaths of African Americans in police custody. Early voting in Maryland begins today. Washington Post
 
Minnesota Sex Offender Program
After years of indefinitely locking up sex offenders, Minnesota now faces a thornier issue: how to let them out, MinnPost
 
New York
Bernie Sanders sliced Hillary Clinton’s New York lead in half since early March, Washington Post
Bernie Sanders rallies 27,000 in Manhattan, Washington Post
 
Republican National Convention
Cruz likely to block Trump on a second ballot at the GOP convention, Washington Post
The Republican convention’s ‘nuclear option,’ CNN
Republican activists tracks delegate count, Star Tribune

To be sure, Trump can still win the nomination on the first ballot if he keeps winning primaries over the next two months and gets his act together at the conventions that are picking the delegates. “There’s not going to be a second ballot,” said Paul Manafort, a senior adviser to Trump. Washington Post

With a recent string of losses to Cruz, Trump’s pre-convention path to a 1,237 delegate majority has grown very narrow. Exceedingly narrow. Economy seat narrow. Washington Post

Soccer
St. Paul soccer stadium bill gets hearing in Minnesota House, KSTP

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