In the Know

Minnesota DFL
Sept. 10, 2014
 
Events today

• 9:30 a.m. – U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan will host a news conference on the House Triangle to announce his Restore Democracy Act – a major effort by reform-minded Members of Congress, Common Cause and other national organizations to counter Citizens United, curb the corrupt influence of money in politics, shorten campaigns, prohibit candidates for Congress from fundraising during session, and return Congress to its traditional system of Regular Order.
• 1 p.m. – Gov. Dayton will meet with local leaders and emergency managers in Winona regarding railway safety. Winona County Historical Society, 160 Johnson St., Winona.
• 2:45 p.m. – Gov. Dayton will meet with the Winona State University Student Senate.

 
Mark your calendars and spread the word!
9 days until early voting beings Sept. 19
55 days until the Nov. 4 general election
 
2014 election
Republican women face up-hill fight this fall, AP
News Guide: Brown wins in New Hampshire, Tierney loses in Massachusetts, in Tuesday primaries, Star Tribune
GOP seizes on Islamic State in midterms, Politico
Independence Party standard-bearers pick a side: The GOP, Star Tribune
DNC launches voting pledge campaign to boost turnout, The Hill

AFSCME Council 5, which represents thousands of Minnesota state and local government employees, has taken an aggressive stance on Twitter of late, raising some question about the appropriateness of their tweets. Last month, after Jeff Johnson won the Republican gubernatorial primary, the union’s Twitter feed shared an image of Johnson and Republican Gov. Scott Walker, of Wisconsin, superimposed on a background with the licking flames of hell. On Tuesday, the union called out Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike McFadden, saying “tax dodging is for traitors not senators.”  The tweet superimposed McFadden against a beachy background meant to represent Bermuda. Read more about McFadden’s connection to Bermuda here. Star Tribune

Legislature
Campaign over control for Minnesota House comes to Duluth, Northland News Center

State Auditor
Sex scandal could detonate under Minnesota GOP, mn progressive project

Minnesota Supreme Court
Minnesota Supreme Court candidate’s complaint against GOP dismissed, Pioneer Press

Governor
Horner, who challenged Dayton in 2010 in IP, returns to GOP fold to back Jeff Johnson, Star Tribune
Tom Horner: IP, GOP, me – me – me, mnpACT!
GOP’s Jeff Johnson endorsed by Tom Horner, Pioneer Press
Horner backs Johnson for governor, MPR
Johnson’s Tea Party tour of Minnesota, politics mn
Johnson’s campaign says no to any LG debates, politics mn

DFL Gov. Mark Dayton, vying for re-election for the first time in his long political career, on Tuesday was unwilling to make a forecast on how his quest for a second term was going. “Ask me eight weeks from today. Candidates are always the last to know,” Dayton said in answer to a question. “We’ll see anything can change. Events that are unforeseeable probably will occur, and I don’t take anything for granted.” He said most of his time and attention goes to the job of being the governor, not a candidate. Star Tribune

U.S. House
Duck – duck – Kline’s goose, mnpACT!
Peterson, Nolan targets in fresh round of Republican ads, MinnPost
Why Democrats can’t win the House, New York Times
Torrey Westrom’s advantage, National Review
Ex-Sen. Coleman’s group drops $600K on 8th Dist. race, MPR
Incumbent, challenger show different campaign strategies in 1st District, Owatonna People’s Press

U.S. Senate
McFadden backs Rep. Bachmann proposal to rescind passports of ISIS fighters, Star Tribune
Obama’s unpopularity poses serious midterm challenge for funnyman Franken, Fox News
Forum editorial: Franken must be smiling, Fargo Forum
 
Affordable Care Act
Expanded mental health coverage and the Affordable Care Act: How is Minnesota performing? MinnPost
 
Congress
Senate agenda shows lawmakers keep their focus on November, MinnPost
 
Congressional delegation
Some Minnesotans in Congress support airstrikes against ISIS, MPR

Franken
Franken defends call for campaign finance reform, MPR
 
Disaster funding
Disaster contingency fund likely to cover state’s share of storm damages until next year, Star Tribune
Mary Dayton: Flood money is sufficient, no special session, Pioneer Press
Disaster aid plan won’t require special session, MPR
Suppliers take steps to avoid propane shortage this winter, Northland News Center
 
Energy
Dayton calls state’s propane situation ‘encouraging’ as winter approaches, Star Tribune
Officials prepare for propane shortage in Minnesota, Pioneer Press
 
GOP
MN GOP: The bargain of silence on social conservative issues, mnpACT!
 
Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council
Heritage Council picks executive director, Star Tribune
 
Minimum wage
Minneapolis leaders consider $15-an-hour base wage, Star Tribune

Mining celebration
Mining celebration, Mesabi Daily News
 
State Board of Investment
Testiness spills out over Minnesota’s Israeli bonds, Star Tribune

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