The Daily Digest: 1-11-07

It's rare that a presidential speech has an impact on everyday Minnesotans. But President Bush's speech last night means the Minnesota National Guard soldiers serving in Iraq will have their deployments extended. MPR, the Star Tribune and KARE-11 have reaction from some who have family members serving in that country.

Governor Pawlenty and a spokesman for the Minnesota National Guard expressed their disappointment with the extension.

All of this comes at a time when another Minnesota soldier dies in Iraq. MPR and the AP have stories on Sgt. James M. Wosika Jr. of St. Paul.

Legislature

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Senate DFLers outline their health proposal. MPR, the Star Tribune, ECM Publishers, the Pi Press and the AP have stories.

Governor Pawlenty will outline his proposal today. The Minnesota House will take up a bill that makes changes to the state tax code (basically it lines the state tax form up with the federal changes done late last year) on the floor today.

House GOP announces its crime package and takes dead aim at Minneapolis and St. Paul. MPR and the AP have stories.

The Star Tribune takes a look at the higher ed issues facing the Legislature.

The House Higher Ed Committee held hearing yesterday and took testimony from students. Some call for tuition cuts. The Mesabi Daily News, the St. Cloud Times and Forum Communications have stories.

The Minnesota Senate raises its daily allowance. The Star Tribune and the AP have stories.

Pawlenty appoints former Auditor Pat Anderson to head up DOER. The Star Tribune, the Pi Press and ECM Publishers have stories. Anderson lost her re-election bid to DFLer Rebecca Otto.

A Pi Press editorial wonders if DFLers in the House and Senate are overreaching.

MPR says No Child Left Behind turns five and state lawmakers don't think it's working.

TPT's Almanac at the Capitol interviews DFL Assistant Senate Majority Leader Tarryl Clark and GOP Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem.

Congress

Norm Coleman is in most of the major dailies because of his opposition to the troop surge. Here's an AP story and a story in the Chicago Tribune.

The New Ulm Journal also says DFL Congressman Tim Walz is critical of the president's plan.

The Washington Post has a story on the minimum wage increase vote in the U.S. House. GOP Congressman John Kline opposes a minimum wage increase saying a hike "will leave recent economic growth dead in its tracks."

DFL Senator Amy Klobuchar hires the former Farmers Union president.

GOP Congressman Jim Ramstad is mentioned in this UPI story wondering if this is the mental health congress.

The Star Tribune has a story saying DFL Congressman Keith Ellison is named to House Judiciary Committee and that GOP Congressman Michele Bachmann is named to the Financial Services Committee.

Roll Call also says Ellison's political moves surrounding the Koran controversy shows political acumen (subscription required).

DFL Congressman Collin Peterson announces the freshman members of the Ag Committee (Tim Walz is one of them).

Peterson also supports a plan that would give illegal immigrants who work on the farm legal residency.

2008

NPR's Ken Rudin says Coleman is one of the more vulnerable Republicans running for the U.S. Senate but wonders if Al Franken can win statewide.

The Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire says reaction to the Iraq plan is so 2008. Coleman is mentioned.

Checks and Balances says Al Franken is getting ready to leave Air America and will run for Senate.

Franken also submits his opinion on the president's plan to Minnesota Monitor.

2008 RNC Convention

The Pi Press says the St. Paul City Council has finalized the deal.

2010

The Star Tribune says Pawlenty may run for another term.

Blog Watch

Minnesota Monitor gets some alternative views on President Bush's speech.

Let me know if you write or see anything of interest.

Finally, Bob Collins makes the big time.

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