The Daily Digest: 1-28-09
Gov. Pawlenty offered a budget that is Pawlenty's plan is 2.2% smaller than the previous two-year budget. It cuts health care eligibility, higher education and aid to cities and counties. It does increase spending for education and provides tax cuts. It also relies heavily on one-time money. MPR, the Pi Press, the Star Tribune, KARE, Forum Communications, the St. Cloud Times, AP, MinnPost, Fox9, KSTP and WCCO have stories.
Here is a deeper look at the cuts to health care (MPR, the Pi Press and the Star Tribune follow).
Here is reaction to the cuts to local government aid. MPR, AP and the Pi Press have stories.
MPR and the Pi Press have reaction to the cuts to higher ed.
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K12 is spared the budget axe and even sees more money.
Gov. Pawlenty uses a lot of one-time money to pay down the debt.
One use is the selling of bonds on future tobacco fund revenue.
The federal stimulus package will also ease the deficit pain particularly in education and health care.
Minnesota is set to spend transportation money from the stimulus package.
The allocation of the sales tax money for the arts and outdoors is still unclear.
Business taxes would get cut under Pawlenty's plan.
The news comes as Target and Best Buy whack more employees.
2008 U.S. Senate Race
The Senate trial resumes. Several testify that their ballots were wrongly rejected. MPR, the Pi Press, the Star Tribune, AP, Forum Communications and MinnPost have stories.
CNN offers analysis by its Democratic and GOP contributors on the race. Guess who thinks Coleman should step aside? Guess who thinks there were irregularities?
Congress
The U.S. House takes up President Obama's economic stimulus package today.
Obama is downplaying GOP support for the plan after meeting with Republicans.
GOP House Minority Leader John Boehner tells his members to vote against it.
GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann wanted bipartisanship when it came to marking up the bill.
The Hill also says Bachmann twittered as Obama was addressing the GOP.
Congress relaxes rules on lawsuits over pay inequity. GOP Rep. John Kline is mentioned.
2010
Minnesota Brown says the DFL candidates for governor will make the rounds this weekend.