The Daily Digest: 2-9-07
Boy oh boy. It's thin soup on the digest front. So I'm leading with bowling. Governor Pawlenty and legislative leaders went bowling yesterday at Ran-Ham Lanes in St. Paul. I'm told Pawlenty bowled a 118. DFL Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller bowled a 99. GOP House Minority Leader Marty Seifert bowled an 82. GOP Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem bowled an 42. DFL House Speaker Margaret Kelliher bowled a 39.
The UAW wants a moratorium on the Ford Plant site. The Pi Press and the Star Tribune have stories.
The Pi Press also says the state will stop funding a controversial Christian prison program.
The energy standard gets final approval from the senate.
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The Star Tribune says a state senator wants a greater investment and commitment to flex fuel vehicles.
Pawlenty tells KARE-11 that he likes being governor.
The St. Cloud Times writes about a bill to fund special education.
Congress
AP says GOP Senator Norm Coleman wants the Senate to vote on the Iraq war.
The Hill profiles Coleman as one of three vulnerable senators going against their party.
Coleman and DFL Congressman Tim Walz weigh in on DM&E in the Mankato Free Press.
Bloomberg also says Walz received some contributions from Comcast and Aflac.
The Daily Press says GOP Congressman John Kline calls the union card check system a last resort for union bosses to preserve their power.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics files a complaint with the IRS on a Brooklyn Park pastor (he's the pastor who endorsed GOP Congresswoman Michele Bachmann in his church). The Pi Press, AP and the Star Tribune have stories. They basically follow yesterday's story in the Minnesota Monitor.
2008
The Baltimore Jewish Times handicaps a race between Coleman and DFLer Al Franken.
But wait! The Hill says Mike Ciresi could challenge Franken (if Franken gets in).
Political Insider ranks Coleman the most vulnerable Republican.
Coleman is backing Pawlenty for VP. Pawlenty will be in Michigan on Saturday to speak on behalf of John McCain. The Star Tribune and the Rochester Post Bulletin write about Coleman's glowing endorsement.
GOP state senator Dick Day will challenge DFL Congressman Tim Walz for Congress. AP, the Hill and MPR have stories.