The Daily Digest

The Republican Party worked on Thursday to change the focus from Tom Emmer's tip tussle to where the DFL candidates stand on taxes. The MNGOP ripped Democrat Mark Dayton for not supporting a plan that would exempt military pension and pay from state income taxes. Dayton said the plan is a form of political bribery. The plan would cost the state $40 million in the next two year budget cycle.

IP candidate Tom Horner lays out his economic development plan. Horner also said he thinks the mortgage interest deduction should be capped.

The Pi Press takes a look at the protester who disrupted Emmer's town hall forum. The individual told reporters his name was Robert Erickson but his real name is Nick Espinosa. Espinosa asked Emmer to attend a town hall in August, Emmer declined.

Emmer's campaign manager, GOP Rep. Mark Buesgens, faces a primary challenge.

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Here's a look at the events and debates that are scheduled for the next few weeks.

DFL Rep. Matt Entenza spoke with MPR's Morning Edition on Thursday. He also met with reporters to dust off his education plan and challenged his DFL opponents on how they'll pay for increases in K12 spending.

Tribal Gaming gave big to DFL Party units.

2008 Race for Senate

The MNGOP wants counties to probe 2008 felon voters.

Race for Congress

DFLer Jim Meffert trails GOP Rep. Erik Paulsen in fundraising.

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann spoke to the Western Conservative Summit.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar is headed to Martha's Vineyard to help raise money for the DSCC.

Under the Dome

35W bridge victims ask the judge to require the contractor to pay punitive damages.

Minnesota's unemployment rate dropped to 6.8 percent in June as more people stopped looking for work.

Minnesota's foreclosure activity dropped in June.

Venture Capital is still scarce in Minnesota.

GOP Sen. Gen Olson wants to change a "loophole" in the state's sexual misconduct law.

Congress

The Senate passed a sweeping Wall St. reform bill.

MinnPost says DFL Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken voted for the bill.

BP stopped the oil well from leaking into the Gulf of Mexico. It's the first time that occurred in nearly three months.

DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar reacts to the BP cap.

President Obama visited Michigan to tout federal investment in batteries.

Former Fed Chair Alan Greenspan says Congress should let the Bush tax cuts expire. Greenspan advocated for the tax cuts when they were enacted.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar puts forward a renewable energy standard.

Klobuchar also wrote a letter to Facebook's CEO about child protection on the social media site.

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann starts a Capitol Hill Tea Party Caucus.

Pawlenty for Prez Watch

MPR takes a deeper look at Pawlenty's PAC campaign finance report.

Pawlenty is also kicking off an online endorsement contest.

Pawlenty spoke at the Aspen Institute on Thursday. He was one of several governors to bash the President at the event.

Pawlenty held a fundraiser for the Colorado Republican gov candidate who plagiarized.

Politico says if Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour decide to run, they will vie with Pawlenty as the mainsteam alternative to Romney.