The Daily Digest (Emmer in CD6 race, Dayton says tax cuts possible, U.S. collecting phone data of millions)
On the state front, former gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer has leapt into the race for Congress in the 6th District.
And Gov. Mark Dayton is in campaign mode. He's raising money, and said yesterday that tax cuts would be a possibility if the state continues to see surpluses.
Nationally, news that the National Security Agency is collecting phone data for millions of Americans is resurrecting concerns about the domestic use of provisions in the Patriot Act.
Minnesota
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GOP's Emmer jumps into Minn.'s 6th District race (MPR News)
Emmer declared his candidacy to succeed Rep. Michele Bachmann in the U.S. House. He said Republican leaders in the area initially approached him about running. DFL chairman Ken Martin called Emmer a voice for the "hard-core right-wing."
Dayton says tax cuts may be coming (MPR News)
As nearby Wisconsin considers tax cuts that would mostly affect residents earning over $100,000 a year, Gov. Dayton said Minnesota tax cuts could be on the table as soon as next session. He said whether he pursues tax cuts depends on if the state continues to collect surpluses.
Dayton won't self-finance like he did in past campaigns (Star Tribune)
Dayton has already raised about $30,000 at two fundraisers. He said his campaign should be financed by people who want to ensure he can continue the work he started in his first term. Dayton spent millions of dollars of his own money running for a U.S. Senate seat and Minnesota governor.
Second lawsuit filed on child care union law (MPR News)
The National Right to Work Foundation is providing legal representation for a second group of child care providers to challenge the law. Dayton said challengers of the law that allows eligible child care providers to vote to unionize are just "trying to throw sand into the machinery and delay."
Minnesota DFLers push federal plan to combat gas price spikes (Star Tribune)
Minnesota Democrats in the U.S. House are proposing a plan that would require oil companies to report maintenance schedules to the U.S. Department of Energy to help prevent spikes in gas prices like the state experienced last month. The House proposal echoes a bill sponsored by Sens. Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar in the U.S. Senate.
Nolan's 'protest' vote one of four against VA budget bill (MinnPost)
U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan was one of only four votes against the House bill authorizing the Veteran Administration's budget. He said the bill doesn't include enough funding on veterans' health and benefits, and that it spends too much for new military construction projects.
'One Minneapolis' mayoral forum to address city's racial disparities (MPR News)
As the Minneapolis mayoral race heats up, candidates will be asked at a forum what their solution would be to racial inequity in Minneapolis.
Metro counties start accepting applications from same-sex couples (MPR News)
The state's ban on same-sex marriage won't be lifted until Aug. 1, but Hennepin, Ramsey and Washington counties are taking applications early. Instead of sections for "bride" and "groom," Minnesota marriage licenses now have spaces for "first applicant" and "second applicant."
Dayton's sons included in trade trip (MPR News)
Andrew and Eric Dayton, who own the Bachelor Farmer restaurant in Minneapolis, will tag along for a portion of the governor's trade mission to Germany, Sweden and Norway next week. The Dayton said the restaurateurs will stay in Sweden to check out the food scene when the rest of the group moves on.
National
NSA collecting phone records of millions of Verizon customers daily (The Guardian)
A secret court order required Verizon to turn over records of all phone calls within their systems to the National Security Agency for a three-month period starting in April. The government requires information like telephone numbers, location, and the duration of calls for millions of Americans who are not suspected of any wrongdoing. Read the full court order here.
Administration defends phone records collection; action based on Patriot Act (Associated Press)
A senior official in the Obama administration described the NSA's ability to collect Americans' phone data as "a critical tool in protecting the nation from terrorist threats."
Lawmakers act on sexual assault bill, stripping commanders of ability to overturn convictions (Associated Press via Star Tribune)
The House is scheduled to vote next week on a proposal that would strip commanders of the ability to overturn rape or assault convictions. More ambitious legislation in the Senate would give military prosecutors the power to level charges, rather than a victim's commander.
Obama's Choices Reflect Change in Foreign Tone (New York Times)
The tone of President Barack Obama's foreign policy could shift with the ascension of Susan E. Rice and Samantha Power. Although neither has supported a more aggressive response to Syria's civil war, both appear to adhere to the tenets of liberal interventionism, which argues that the United States should aggressively defend human rights.
In Personnel Appointments, Obama Takes Assertive Tack (New York Times)
Recent appointments in the Obama administration appear to signal that the president has realized Republicans will never be happy with his nominees. He's powered through recent Senate confirmation hearings despite Republican criticisms. A former administration officials said the fact that he's in his second term has freed him to support the nominees he thinks are truly best for the job.
Judge Orders All Restrictions Lifted on Some 'Morning-After' Pills (New York Times)
A federal appeals court in New York ruled that women of all ages should have access to a two-pill type of emergency contraceptive. The ruling follows back-and-forth between advocates for making the pills more widely available and the Obama administration, which supports more strict age requirements in order to obtain emergency contraception over the counter.