The Daily Digest: 12-19-06
Governor Pawlenty names his DNR Commissioner, makes a few jobs permanent and says good-bye to his chief of staff. MPR, AP, the Star Tribune, the Pi Press, ECM Publishers and Forum Communications have stories.
WCCO-TV says Pawlenty is calling for stricter immigration laws.
The Winona Daily News says Goodview officials rip Sviggum over LGA.
Don Davis with Forum Communications says Pogemiller could be the wild card in the upcoming session and Coleman wants to reform the U.S. Postal Service.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.
Congress
Amy Klobuchar says she wants a ban on privately funded travel and is taking a tougher stance on ethics. AP, the Pi Press, Forum Communications and the Star Tribune have stories.
Folks press Norm Coleman on immigration. The Pi Press and Workday Minnesota have stories.
DFL Congressman Collin Peterson will discuss the farm bill at the American Farm Bureau’s annual meeting next month. He also backs biofuels (if there was any doubt left).
The Coast Guard stops live fire training (Oberstar mentioned). MPR and the Duluth News Tribune have stories.
The Wall Street Journal says trade and fiscal issues divide the Dems.
2006
We get a greater glimpse at who backed “A Stronger-America-Minnesota." This the group the ran the anti-hatch ads. CQ Politics has this to say about the group:
A Stronger America, a 527 group based in Alexandria, Va., filed its first financial report with the IRS since registering in April 2006. The account reported, in a paper filing signed on Dec. 6 and just made available to the public, that it raised $797,300 and spent $616,700. And the major donor was Perry, who gave $500,000 on Oct. 26.
Although most of its funding came from this one source in Texas, most of the other donations were from Minnesota and Wisconsin. These included $75,000 from Local Action PAC (MN); $55,000 from the Committee of Automobile Retailers; $20,000 from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Leadership Fund-PAC; and $25,000 from the Minnesota Assn of Realtors; among others. The account paid Crossroads Media of Virginia $1,040,000 and Marudas of Minnesota $126,300.
AP and the Pi Press reports that DFLer Coleen Rowley is using ebay to retire her campaign debt. She lost to GOP Congressman John Kline in Minnesota’s 2nd District.
Blog Watch
Leigh Pomeroy writes in the Minneota Monitor that some old school DFLers won’t like an Al Franken candidacy but Pomeroy says Franken will drive up the college vote.
Other
Slate writes about the 5 best political moments of 2006 (bloggers are on the list).
The New York Times says health care costs and pensions are rising too fast for some local governments.
The Star Tribune says former Minneapolis City Council members Dean Zimmermann sentenced today.