In the Know

Minnesota DFL
May 27, 2014
 
Events today

• 9 a.m. – The Alliance for a Better Minnesota will release opposition research on Republican candidates for governor and U.S. Senate and engage in a series of online and media actions in the week leading up to the state GOP convention.
• 10 a.m. – U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and U.S. Congressman Keith Ellison will highlight Congressional action to close the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock. The bipartisan provision, which was included in the final water infrastructure bill recently passed by Congress, will help fight the spread of invasive carp by closing the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock within one year. Invasive carp are capable of eating between 20 and 120 percent of their body weight each day outcompeting native fish for food. Minnesota’s fishing and boating industries contribute around $4 billion to the state’s economy each year.
• 10 a.m. – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and U.S. Congressman Keith Ellison hold news conference to highlight congressional action to close the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock.
• 11 a.m. – U.S. Sen. Al Franken will announce the winners of his third annual Poetry contest for Minnesota students and present them with their awards at his St. Paul Senate Office.

 
2013/2014 sessions
Summary of 2013 and 2014 legislation to support working families, Workday Minnesota
DFLers prove that government can improve people’s lives, Rochester Post Bulletin
Our view: DFL restores what’s best about state, Winona Daily News
DFL leaders: Session was productive. Representatives call for more focus on transportation, higher education, Austin Daily Herald
Potholes, infrastructure, and Jim Oberstar, TC Daily Planet
With bonding cash nearly in hand, Duluth mayor ready to work, Duluth News Tribune
We can be proud of our Legislature, Newsleaders
A Minnesota first you might have missed, TC Daily Planet
PoliGraph: Picking apart Daudt, Thissen claims, MPR
 
2014 election
Minnesota mega-donors pour money into 2014 elections, Star Tribune
A look into Minnesota politics’ major donors, Star Tribune
Williams: The fierce fight for women’s votes, The Hill
Republicans hold ‘Camaraderie and Common Sense’ fundraiser, Aitkin Independent Age

Attorney General
Senator Scott Newman to run for Attorney General, politics mn

Governor
Seifert: Indifference is hostility, Mesabi Daily News
Two more GOP candidates pick running mates, Star Tribune
Renter’s Warehouse execs climb aboard Thompson-for-Governor campaign, MinnPost
Talking Points: Will Gov. Dayton’s health be an issue for re-election? WCCO
Balls & Strikes: Thompson’s new focus on fundraising is too late, politics mn
Mega-donors in Minnesota’s gubernatorial race mostly from metro area, Star Tribune
Up on the Range, MNGOP candidate Marty Seifert plays a little hide-and-seek of his own with labor, Bluestem Prairie
 
U.S. House
Winona Daily News editorial board loves themselves some Jim Hagedorn, sorta, Bluestem Prairie
Our view: Hagedorn smart to re-enter GOP race, Winona Daily News
Mills visits Pine City on ‘Job Building Tour,’ Pine City Pioneer
The National Republican Congressional Committee is launching a campaign to win 245 seats in November, expanding their current majority by more than a dozen seats. To further their efforts, the NRCC has unveiled a video featuring star GOP candidates in competitive districts, including state Sen. Torrey Westrom (in photo at left) in the Seventh Congressional District and Mills Fleet Farm vice president Stewart Mills III in the Eighth Congressional District. The new initiative could lead to even more GOP support for Westrom and Mills, who have already reached the top tier of the NRCC’s candidate support program. Westrom is running against Rep. Collin Peterson while Mills is challenging Rep. Rick Nolan. Star Tribune
U.S. Senate
Live Blog: Republican candidates’ U.S. Senate debate, Star Tribune
Chris Dahlberg’s “Rolling Front Porch Tour” comes to an end, Northland News Center
Nomination dispute triggers Carlson to pull out of GOP Convention, politics mn
Days before GOP convention, Ortman to air first ad, MPR
 
2016 election
Jeb Bush gives Party something to think about, New York Times

Congressional delegation
Franken, Klobuchar, Nolan seek action after VA health care allegations, Pioneer Press
Sens. Franken, Klobuchar push VA on Minnesota wait times, Star Tribune

Kline
John Kline – Protecting his for profit college buddies, mnpACT!
Senate rejects Kline proposed cuts to special ed program, Minnesota Political Roundtable

Klobuchar
Medical device tax survives latest repeal effort, Star Tribune

McCollum
Minn. Rep. Betty McCollum quietly rises to influential House posts, Star Tribune

Nolan
Nolan calls for VA Secretary’s resignation amid health care scandal, Star Tribune
Nolan: Veterans Affairs Secretary Shinseki should resign, MinnPost
 
Demographics
Who will be newcomers to Minneapolis and St. Paul? Immigrants, young people and seniors, MinnPost
 
Economic development
Coleraine project progressing; Mag 4 set to open Jan. 2015, Hibbing Daily Tribune
Minnesota to give Lake Elmo $3.5M for new water system, Pioneer Press
Canada: More foreign than Target realized, Star Tribune
At TCAAP site, focus now moves to road work, Pioneer Press
 
Education (K-12)
Minnesota high schoolers tackle tuition before turning their tassels, Star Tribune
 
Energy
Government puts new conditions on Keystone pipeline after defects found in Southern leg, Star Tribune
 
Environment
Tribal efforts — and influence — on environmental policy are growing, MinnPost
54-inch Minnesota-wide muskie minimum signed by Mark Dayton, Pioneer Press
Tucson’s water ethic: Blueprint for Minnesota? MPR
 
GOP
A younger generation of Republicans split with party on gay marriage, pot and social issues, Star Tribune
Tea Party gimmick gets exposed: Why it was always a tool of the Republicans, Salon
GOP hopes renewed probes into Benghazi, IRS will fire up conservatives and not annoy centrists, Star Tribune
Will GOP pass O-Care replacement? The Hill
Is the Tea Party finished? MPR
 
Health care
States face new cost concerns as health law boosts Medicaid sign-ups beyond expectations, Star Tribune
 
Labor
Legislature improves law governing public sector collective bargaining, Workday Minnesota
Put state policy focus on raising low wages, Star Tribune
 
Legislators
Hotdish Politics: For some Minnesota lawmakers, the call of duty can interfere with call to order, Star Tribune
Steering the State Capitol on Tom Bakk time, Star Tribune
Legislative Iron Range delegation: With Senate Majority Leader Bakk out front, ‘Motherland’ defended, Mesabi Daily News
 
Marriage equality
Same-sex marriage gets boost from unbroken string of courtroom victories since 2013 ruling, Star Tribune
 
Medical marijuana
Minnesota study on medical marijuana slowed by bureaucratic hurdles, Pioneer Press
Cannabis foe Ingebrigtsen bummed colleagues didn’t vote for more rural medical marijuana, Bluestem Prairie

The Legislature recently settled the medical marijuana issue, but the debate between lawmakers has continued on social media. Sen. Branden Petersen, R-Andover, (in photo at left) took to his Facebook page to blast Gov. Mark Dayton for insisting on what the lawmaker called a “weak” bill that excludes potentially tens of thousands of patients. Quick with a response was Rep. Carly Melin, DFL-Hibbing and the bill’s chief House sponsor, who said it was a choice between the bill that was passed and a veto by the governor. That prompted a series of back-and-forth posts. It fell to Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington and another supporter of the bill, to play peacemaker. Star Tribune

Memorial Day
Eleven veterans from the Minneapolis-based Fort Snelling Memorial Rifle Squad will participate in the Memorial Day observance today at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, just outside of Washington, D.C. U.S. Rep. John Kline recognized the squad’s upcoming 35th anniversary during a speech on the House floor last week. Here’s a look at Kline’s remarks, including a nod to his role in reversing a U.S. Army decision that would have limited the squad’s access to ceremonial rifles used to provide salutes during military burials. Star Tribune
 
Obama
Obama, 6 years in, fights a case of cabin fever, Pioneer Press
Obama slips into Afghanistan to visit US troops, Pioneer Press
An anti-Obama dentist just bought up the best new Democrat domain names, National Journal
North Dakota reservation leaders say they’d welcome reported Obama visit, Fargo Forum

Public safety
Police prepare for safety on Green Line, Star Tribune
 
Retraining
$1.5 million for Target, Pioneer Press and other laid-off workers, MinnPost
 
State Conventions
Capitol Chatter: Minnesota political conventions provide interesting about-face, Capitol Chatter

State ethnic councils
Dialogue now focused on how best to strengthen, not eliminate, state ethnic councils, Twin Cities Daily Planet
 
Speed limit
Sammy Hagar’s dream law? Speed limits on more Minnesota highway miles could zoom past 55 mph, Star Tribune
Minnesota lawmakers demand higher speed limits on more miles, Pioneer Press
 
Stem cell research
Stem cell research gets a multimillion-dollar boost at the Capitol, Star Tribune
 
Super Bowl
Minneapolis hopes 2018 Super Bowl leads to bigger things, Star Tribune
Reality Check: The cost of the Mpls. Super Bowl, WCCO
 
Transportation
Highway 14 Partnership to advocate for Corridors of Commerce funding for right-of-way acquisition, Owatonna People’s Press
 
Tourism
States spending wads to woo tourists, Star Tribune

Veterans
New state law makes it easier for Veterans to become police officers, Northland News Center

daily brief · issues · news

<< McFadden avoids being forthright on climate change, Norquist tax pledge

Extreme conservative Ortman would abolish the Department of Education >>