The Daily Digest

Campaign money, specifically corporate and union money, leads the Digest today.

The U.S. Supreme Court rolled back campaign spending limits yesterday. The ruling effectively allows corporations and unions to spend money from their own treasuries in support of a candidate.

Reaction is Minnesota is mixed after the ruling. One Minnesota state representative wants tougher and more frequent reporting requirements for all political contributions. MPR and the Star Tribune have stories.

One thing is certain. There will be more campaign ads and more confusion in 2010.

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Under the Dome

The GOP sends a mailing that looks like a census form. An RNC official said it's to gather opinion and raise money. MPR, the Star Tribune and the Pi Press have stories.

The state lost 4,100 jobs in December.

Gov. Pawlenty met with school leaders about an aid payment delay.

The Legislature wants to take quick action on a bonding bill.

DFL Rep. Tom Rukavina, who is also running for governor, rips Pawlenty's plan to buy land on Lake Vermilion and turn it into a park.

Lawmakers held a hearing on fatal falls in nursing homes. State regulators tell lawmakers that they may start issuing more citations when they find mistakes in nursing homes.

A lawmaker is proposing a bill that would allow counties to place bounties on coyotes.

The League of Minnesota Cities will file a friend of the court brief in the unallotment case.

KARE does an extensive story on GAMC and what would happen when the funding runs out.

The MCCL holds its annual rally at the State Capitol at noon today.

Congress

House leaders say they can't pass the Senate health bill.

DFL Rep. Keith Ellison says health insurance reform may not be dead.

DFL Rep. Tim Walz says changes to the health care laws are still needed.

He indicates support that he'll back the Senate bill.

DFL Rep. Collin Peterson says Obama got too caught up in health care and cap and trade and should be focusing on the economy.

Obama is still the most trusted in the polls.

President Obama seeks tighter limits on banks.

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell will give the GOP response to President Obama's State of the Union.

The Senate votes for faster tax breaks for those who give to Haiti.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar supports a statutory commission to rein in the deficit.

Klobuchar also hasn't committed on whether she'll back Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke for another term.

A pro Israel, pro peace PAC endorses DFL Rep. Keith Ellison.

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann will speak in California next week.

She also complains about how Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) treated her on a radio show.

2010 Race for Governor

Republican Marty Seifert is the first candidate for governor to run ads this cycle.

Seifert also has an op-ed saying Americans are fed up.

Democrat Matt Entenza is also running an ad.

Republican Tom Emmer picked up some Pat Anderson supporters.

Eight DFLers and one Republican are confirmed to talk transportation and land use at a debate on Monday.

Tom Horner, a former Republican commentator for MPR, filed to run for governor as a member of the I-P. PIM and the Pi Press have stories.

The DFL candidates will participate in a debate tonight in Mankato.

2010 Race for Congress

Democrat Maureen Reed reports raising $207,800 in the 4th quarter.

Pawlenty for Prez Watch

MPR says Gov. Pawlenty says he won't allow his PAC to accept contributions from Minnesota based lobbyists during the legislative session. A watchdog group says he shouldn't take from lobbyists of any kind during the session even though that goes beyond what current state or federal law forbids.

A Fox News poll says Obama loses to a generic Republican in 2012 but trounces Palin, Romney and Gingrich in head to heads.

Pawlenty turned down an invite to the NFC Championship Game.

He is, however, taking suggestions on what he should wager with Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.