The Daily Digest: 5-14-2008
Budget talks broke down last night and the House and Senate moved forward with passing an Education Finance bill that Gov. Pawlenty has promised to veto. The bill received enough votes for a veto proof majority. The Pi Press, Forum Communications, the Star Tribune, MPR, the St. Cloud Times and the AP have stories.
There are no floor sessions scheduled for today and no word on whether private budget talks will occur. UPDATE: Gov. Pawlenty's spokesman issued a statement saying the governor has extended an invitation to meet today.
Correction: We're at DefCon 3 and I was alerted that my DefCon level is all screwed up. Duncan sank my battleship by telling me that DefCon 1 is the worst of the worst and DefCon5 is the best.
We will be moving to DefCon 2 and possibly DefCon 1 if the other budget bills are taken up.
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I guess I need to watch the movie War Games again. Paging Matthew Broderick.
The floor action comes as Minneapolis schools prepare to ask voters for an additional $60 million and the MACCRAY School District wants to move to a 4 day school week.
Pawlenty vetoed the Health and the Education Policy bills. The Pi Press, MPR and Forum Communications have stories.
The House and Senate pass a bill to prevent Minnesota from implementing Real ID with veto proof margins.
The Mall of America doesn't like the MOA financing plan.
MnDot gets a new deputy commissioner. The Star Tribune and the Pi Press have stories.
Congress
The House and Senate are expected to vote on the Farm Bill today,
The Wall Street Journal says the Farm Bill could hinder trade talks. DFL Rep. Collin Peterson is mentioned.
President Bush sends the Russia nuclear pact to a skeptical Congress. GOP Sen. Norm Coleman will work to block the agreement.
MPR says concealed carrying of firearms may come to national parks. Coleman signed a letter supporting the change.
The Senate also sent a message to President Bush on energy policy by urging the President to curb oil reserve shipments. DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar is mentioned. Coleman also voted against an amendment because it includes language allowing drilling in ANWR.
DFL Rep. Betty McCollum says there needs to be a restructuring of foreign aid policy.
Oberstar has surprised the U of M with tunnel talk for the Central Corridor. They say they're not interested.
MinnPost says the new mining industry leaves the Arrowhead wetlands vulnerable. DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar is mentioned.
2008 Race for President
The Democratic leaning MNBlue (hence the name) says John McCain will raise money for the MNGOP.
2008 Race for Senate
DFL Party officials tells Coleman to divest campaign contributions from DCI. Coleman camp says no.
MarketWatch says a filibuster proof Senate is a possibility for Democrats. Minnesota's Senate race is mentioned.
2008 Race for Congress
MinnPost writes about 5th District GOP candidate Barb Davis White.
6th District DFLer El Tinklenberg and a staffer for GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann will talk transportation in St. Cloud on Friday.
Pawlenty for VP Watch
The Star Tribune analyzes the reaction regarding Pawlenty's comments regarding his wife.
U.S. News and World Report ponders a McCain/Huckabee ticket. Pawlenty is mentioned.
Pawlenty didn't make the "sexiest governors list."
2008 RNC
They release a new apparel line. Who shot the couch?