The Daily Digest (Fines for MNGOP and Sutton, Romney bombarded on Bain, latest Fundraising numbers)
The Minnesota Republican Party and former MNGOP Chair Tony Sutton were fined over the independent fund that was created for the 2010 recount. The move means the state party has to pay nearly $600k in debts and Sutton could face criminal charges.
The investigation also found that Bob Cummins, who has given millions to GOP causes, was the only person who contributed to Emmer's recount fund.
Under the Dome
Gov. Dayton released his personal tax returns and his fundraising report.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
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Congress
The Obama Administration proposed waivers to the Welfare-to-Work law.
DFL Rep. Collin Peterson prevented the unraveling of the Farm Bill deal.
The PoliGraph says GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann's health care claims are misleading.
Politicians like GOP Rep. John Kline enter the Lakeville rail car fray.
Constitutional Amendment to Ban Same-Sex Marriage
Thomson Reuters announced that it does not support the amendment to ban same-sex marriage.
Race for Congress
The fundraising reports have all been filed.
GOP Rep. Chip Cravaack raised $393k in the 2nd Quarter. DFL Rep. Collin Peterson raised $191k. (More info here)
GOP Rep. Erik Paulsen raised $454k in the quarter. DFL Rep. Betty McCollum raised $90k (More info here).
DFL Rep. Tim Walz raised $235k in the 2nd Quarter.
In Minnesota's 5th District, DFL Rep. Keith Ellison raised $260k. Ellison's GOP challenger, Chris Fields, raised $33k.
Here's a list of the fundraising by Democrats Rick Nolan and Jeff Anderson (Minnesota's 8th), Democrat Brian Barnes (Minnesota's 3rd) and Republican Mike Parry (Minnesota's 1st).
Contenders in the 1st and 7th Districts also filed their reports.
The Star Tribune has a profile of Rick Nolan, the DFL endorsed candidate in Minnesota's 8th District.
Race for U.S. Senate
DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar has $5.5 million in the bank heading into the November election. Her Republican challenger, Kurt Bills, has $64k in the bank.
Race for President
Mitt Romney and President Obama are squaring off over Romney's record at Bain Capital. Romney's campaign staffers are calling on President Obama to apologize for questioning Romney's record at Bain Capital.
Romney rushed to do several TV interviews on Friday with the hopes of changing the story line on his record at the company and why he won't release his tax returns.
Romney's campaign shouldn't expect an apology judging from this ad released by the Obama campaign over the weekend.
The Romney campaign countered with an ad titled "Whatever happened to hope and change?"
Democrats are also making hay out of the fact that Romney adviser Ed Gillespie said Romney "retroactively" left his position at Bain Capital.
Conservative columnist Bill Kristol says "It's crazy" Romney isn't releasing his tax returns.
Romney's team is trying to turn the page by focusing on President Obama's "political payoffs."
It looks like Ron Paul won't have his name placed in nomination at the RNC. He failed to win a plurality in at least five states.
Sarah Palin also hasn't received an invite to the convention.
Pawlenty for VP Watch
The New York Times writes on Tim Pawlenty's chances.