The Daily Digest: 2-11-08
The suits are walking the halls in the Capitol. The staffers are gearing up and state lawmakers are unpacking (unless they never packed up and left last year). The 2008 legislative session begins tomorrow. Gov. Pawlenty and state lawmakers have one mission - to try to make a dollar out of fifteen cents on things like transportation, education, health care and the economy.
The Star Tribune, the Pi Press, Forum Communications, the Rochester Post-Bulletin and the St. Cloud Times have pre-session stories.
The Pi Press has a list of names to know in the transportation debate: DFL Sen. Steve Murphy, Lt. Gov Carol Molnau, DFL Rep. Bernie Lieder, GOP Rep. Ron Erhardt, Gov. Pawlenty and GOP Rep. Mary Liz Holberg.
The Pi Press has a story on a bar that allows smoking because the cigs are "props."
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A citizen's group challenges last year's decision to raise per diem payments to lawmakers.
Five freshman lawmakers release a health care reform bill.
The Outdoors Amendment could be passed as early as this week.
The Legislative Auditor completed an audit on JOBZ. The Star Tribune, the Pi Press, MPR and AP have stories.
There was also an audit of Green Acres.
A lawmaker proposes an environmental review of new ethanol plants.
Congress
Six Minnesotans (three Republicans and three Democrats) joined a group opposing a gun law.
There's talk about loosening federal regulations on cruise ships on the Great Lakes. GOP Sen. Norm Coleman and DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar are mentioned.
DFL Rep. Keith Ellison tells WCCO that Muslim voters helped him get elected. The story focuses on the group's rising political clout.
DFL Rep. Collin Peterson talks up a bill that would make college tuition more affordable.
President Bush issues another veto threat on the Farm Bill. DFL Rep. Collin Peterson is mentioned.
Delta/NWA merger talks continue. DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar still opposes the merger.
2008 Race for President
The Democrats court the superdelegates. WCCO and the New York Times have stories.
Chelsea Clinton is scheduled to make four Wisconsin stops on her mother's behalf.
Ron Paul appears to be focusing on rewinning his House seat and won't run as a third party candidate.
Pawlenty for VP
An Irish bookmaker puts Gov. Pawlenty at 5/2 odds that he'll be a VP pick.
Robert Novak says Pawlenty's decision to back the Senate's economic stimulus plan hurt his odds at being VP.
Pat Toomey doesn't mention Pawlenty in this Wall Street Journal editorial.
Pawlenty is also mentioned by AP, Marc Ambinder, Rush Limbaugh, The Weekly Standard, Slate and the L.A. Times.
The National Review unscientific reader response has Bobby Jindal as the favorite.
2008 U.S. Senate Race
The DFL candidates for U.S. Senate will meet in a debate tonight in International Falls.
They also campaigned in Glencoe.
The Houston Chronicle says Franken was just one of state candidates to bring in the money from Texas.