The Daily Digest
The Legislative Commission on Planning and Fiscal Policy holds another hearing today to discuss the state budget mess. On Wednesday, GOP legislative leaders met behind closed doors with Gov. Dayton for an hour and a half and made little progress on the budget.
Tidbit: Expect Republicans on the LCPFP to focus on the taxes being raised in other states this year. Expect Democrats to counter with the taxes raised in other states over the last eight years and the size of Minnesota's deficit comparable to other states.
While lawmakers and Dayton fail to make a deal on the budget, the state of Minnesota and MnSCU are preparing for a shutdown. Layoff notices to 36,000 state workers will be mailed out on Friday. MnSCU is also making plans to prepare for a shutdown.
MnSCU may send 6,000 lay off notices by the end of the week.
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Two state employee unions are running an ad ripping Republicans on the budget.
Under the Dome
Several political leaders say Delta is reneging on agreements with the state of Minnesota on job numbers.
The rate of health care spending dropped in Minnesota.
Gov. Dayton held a ceremonial signing ceremony for a bill that is aimed at reducing concussions in young athletes.
Constitutional Amendment to ban same-sex marriage
Target's CEO says the company won't enter into the same-sex marriage debate.
Gov. Dayton will attend a Monday fundraiser for a group that is working to oppose the amendment.
Vikings Stadium
The Star Tribune says backers of a new Vikings stadium say a deal has to be reached before a special session.
Congress
A federal appeals court weighed the impact of the federal health care law.
The U.S. is intensifying its covert war in Yemen.
The Senate voted to let the Federal Reserve trim debit card swipe fees.
A large majority of those polled in the Washington Post - ABC News poll say the national economy would suffer serious harm if the nation's debt ceiling isn't raised but barely half support raising it.
The pressure ramps up for Anthony Weiner to resign.
Weiner's wife is pregnant.
The PoliGraph says DFL Rep. Tim Walz is right on oil imports.
Walz donated money he received from Weiner.
MinnPost says GOP Rep. Chip Cravaack's car is one of the costliest in Congress.
Race for President
William Kristol says two sources tell him that Rudy Giuliani will run for president.
Mitt Romney is getting heat over climate change.
Rep. Joe Wilson, R-SC, is Tim Pawlenty's co-chair in South Carolina. Wilson is best known for yelling "You lie" at President Obama.
Tim Pawlenty says he wouldn't renominate Ben Bernanke for Federal Reserve Chair.
Pawlenty says Romney is the front runner.
Pawlenty is getting lots of criticism for his economic speech.
Len Burman wrote in Forbes that Pawlenty's plan for the economy is a fantasy tax policy.
Bloomberg says Pawlenty's revenue estimates are questioned.
A columnist for Washington Monthly says Pawlenty cited the Reagan and Clinton years as good examples of economic growth. The only problem, the columnist writes, is both of those growth periods occurred after taxes were raised.
The Wall St. Journal has written a two positive op-eds about Pawlenty's plan (Read here and here).
Public Policy Polling says Obama would defeat Pawlenty or Michele Bachmann in Minnesota.
Despite low polling, Pawlenty says he likes his odds.
The Washington Post takes a look at the battle between GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann and Sarah Palin.