The Daily Digest: 6-18-07

We lead the digest today with two state agencies and what they aren't disclosing to the public. The Star Tribune says Minnesota Health Commissioner Diane Mandernach, who's role includes health promotion and community public health, rejected plans to inform the public about lung cancer in miners on the Iron Range. They sat on the data for a year.

The Pi Press also says a former scientist with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency alleges he was fired before giving testimony about the dangers of the herbicide, atrazine. The lawsuit comes a few years after the MPCA "univites" a scientist to share his research on atrazine at a conference.

The New York Times writes about Pawlenty's Q-Comp program.

The Pi Press details per diem for lawmakers.

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MPR has a series on the unintended consequences of sex offender laws.

Gannett says national guard units, including Minnesota's, have a shortcoming of supplies due to the war in Iraq.

The Pi Press says the state's off road trail law has some issues.

A DFL state lawmaker wants to ban dangerous dogs. The Star Tribune and the Pi Press have stories.

PIM names its legislator of the year (DFL House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher). The Marshall Independent writes about the runner-up, GOP Minority Leader Marty Seifert.

KARE-11 says there is a new law that attempts to reduce the number of children who fall out of windows.

Congress

AP says senators are bargaining for immigration votes. GOP Sen. Norm Coleman is mentioned.

Coleman also introduced a bill that would provide incentives to get more nurses into the pipeline.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar will be on MPR's Midday at 11 am.

The New York Times says Democrats want to transfer oil subsidies to renewable fuels. Klobuchar is mentioned.

Paul Wellstone's son is weighing in on the mental health debate in Congress.

USA Today says DFL Rep. Collin Peterson's son was paid by Peterson's campaign funds. The story says 72 lawmakers paid their family members or their family member's companies between 2001 and 2006.

The Rochester Post Bulletin says DFL Rep. Tim Walz took a pay cut to run for Congress.

2008

The Fix ranks Minnesota's U.S. Senate race the fifth most competitive in the nation. Here's what Chris Cilizza writes:

5. Minnesota (R): Sen. Norm Coleman's (R) path to reelection may get more rocky if retired Lt. Col. Joe Repya decides to run against him in next year's Republican primary. Coleman would obviously be favored, but anything that diverts attention and resources away from the general election is troublesome for the incumbent. Of course, there is also a line of thinking that a challenge from his ideological right could help Coleman appeal to the moderate and independent voters he'll need to win a second term. While comedian Al Franken and attorney Mike Ciresi are both running credible campaigns for the Democratic nomination, a recent independent poll pointed out the challenge before them: Coleman bested Franken by 22 points and had a 23-point lead over Ciresi. (Previous ranking: 5)

The Caucus says Americans Against Escalation in Iraq plans to send activists to Minnesota to pressure lawmakers into changing their position on the war. The blog says Coleman and GOP Rep Michele Bachmann and GOP Rep. Jim Ramstad are targeted.

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson makes a fundraising stop in Minnesota. The Washington Post says Richardson is counting on Nevada.

2008 RNC

The Star Tribune, the Pi Press and the AP discuss how the fundraising is going for the 2008 convention.

Other

Former President Bill Clinton is in town today.