The Daily Digest (Dayton plan bold, DFLers not totally sold; GOP Senate hopes cold?)
Gov. Dayton's budget and tax plans will continue to dominate the day at the Capitol. On MPR News this morning, Senate leaders talk over Dayton's proposals and other legislative issues. Listen in just after 11 a.m.
State
DFL lawmakers hold off endorsing Dayton budget plan (MPR News)
DFL legislative leaders call Dayton's budget plan bold and honest but aren't fully embracing it. DFL House Speaker Paul Thissen says full package is unlikely to become law.
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Dayton wants sales tax expansion, many others don't (MPR News)
Most of the increased revenue would come from taxing a slew of business services, including legal, accounting, architectural, and management consulting. Critics say the proposed changes would cost jobs.
Education gets big boost in Dayton's budget proposal (MPR News)
"Education officials in Minnesota are finding much to be happy about in Gov. Mark Dayton's budget proposal. All levels of education, from preschool to higher ed, would receive increases in funding under the plan."
Poll: Franken approval ratings solid, GOP competitors weak (MPR News)
Survey from Democratic-friendly firm finds 52 percent approve of DFL U.S. Sen. Al Franken's work in the Senate; 41 percent don't. Franken is also seen far ahead of his potential GOP competitors in 2014.
Abortion foes rally on 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade (Pioneer Press)
Despite frigid temperatures, crowd gathers on the steps of the Minnesota Capitol to protest four decades of legalized abortion in the United States.
Nation
As GOP delays showdown over debt limit, Democrats ponder next steps on tax hikes (NBC News)
White House: Obama won't veto GOP short-term debt limit plan (CBS News)
Many Medicaid patients could face higher fees under proposed federal policy (New York Times)
Joe Biden 'intoxicated' by 2016 run (Politico)
In final days as Secretary of State, Clinton faces Benghazi grilling (CBS News)
Walz gets agriculture committee post
U.S. Rep. Tim Walz will be the top Democrat this Congress on a House Agriculture subcommittee that oversees conservation, forestry and biofuels.
While there aren't a lot of forests in Walz's southern Minnesota district, it is a big producer of corn and sugar beets. Corn is already a popular biofuel while sugar beets are being evaluated by the federal government and several companies as a promising source of energy.
Minnesota Democrats have an outsized influence on the House Agriculture Committee. The panel's top Democrat is 7th District U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson and newly-sworn in Rep. Rick Nolan also has a seat on the committee. -- Brett Neely