The Daily Digest

Gov. Pawlenty and legislative leaders are still trying to hammer out a budget deal. No deal yet but three key issues keep coming up:

1) Making Pawlenty's unallotments permanent.

2) Ratifying the school payment delay and finding funds to pay it back.

3) The expansion of Medical Assistance.

Another piece includes possibly booking federal FMAP money to fill the budget hole. Those appear to be in play for a possible deal. Discussion about a tax increase or a possible override attempt is over since the House and Senate had to pass legislation last night in order to have enough time to override a veto.

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MPR, AP and the Pi Press have stories.

AP says lawmakers are trying to keep an eye on the current problem and the next one.

The now dead income tax increase proposed by Democrats would have hit 7 percent of small business owners.

Gov. Pawlenty will announce a judicial appointment this morning. No word on whether it's to the Minnesota Supreme Court.

A bill requiring ignition interlock on multiple DWI offenders is heading for a final votes in the House and Senate.

Democrats are sending Gov. Pawlenty a Health and Human Services budget bill despite his veto threat.

Minnesota lawmakers reached accord on funding from the Legacy Amendent. The House passed the measure last night. Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer missed the vote and one of his DFL opponents, MN House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, criticized him for missing the votes.

Pawlenty says he'll veto a same sex couples bill.

He also said he'll veto a bill that overhauls the state's pension system.

Congress

The U.S. responds to the health care legal challenge.

2010

The United Steelworkers back Democrat Mark Dayton's bid for governor.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar will raise money for Margaret Anderson Kelliher's bid for governor.

The MCCL targets I-P candidate Tom Horner on abortion.

Republican Tom Emmer rallies against the federal health care overhaul.

Pawlenty for Prez Watch

Gov. Pawlenty will attend his final governor's fishing opener this weekend. Some dude made a song about it.