The Daily Digest (A peace broker, a secret trip and a budget fight)

Good morning!

Gov. Dayton is on a secret trip and could be trying to lure out-of-state companies to Minnesota, an international peacemaker is trying to bring peace to the Minnesota Orchestra and Republicans in Congress are planning another budget showdown over the Affordable Care Act.

In Minnesota

Gov. Dayton is traveling to an undisclosed location out of state Wednesday “for a meeting regarding a possible economic development opportunity for Minnesota.” (MPR News)

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Former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, who helped broker a peace deal in Northern Ireland, is trying to resolve the Minnesota Orchestra’s lengthy labor dispute. (Star Tribune)

Minnesota's Republican Party is among the most dysfunctional state political parties in the country according to a Capitol Hill newspaper. (Roll Call)

The growth of state spending per capita in Minnesota rose less than most other states in the past decade, according to a conservative think tank. (Star Tribune)

Gov. Mark Dayton announced his appointments to an eight-member board that will make spending decisions about the state’s contribution to Mayo Clinic’s  expansion plan. (MPR News)

DFL Sens. Amy Klobuchar and  Al Franken are recommending President Obama nominate attorney Andrew Luger to be the next U.S. Attorney for Minnesota. Luger, a partner at the Minneapolis law firm Greene Espel, is a former Assistant U.S. Attorney and currently chairs the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board. (MPR News)

Congress/National Politics

House Education Committee Chairman and 2nd District Rep. John Kline saw a dramatic upsurge in campaign contributions from for-profit colleges as he is pushing legislation that would help the industry preserve its access to federal student loans. (USA Today)

Congressional Republicans are moving to gut many of President Obama’s top priorities with the sharpest spending cuts in a generation and a new push to hold government financing hostage unless the president’s signature health care law is stripped of money this fall. (New York Times)

Republican Tom Emmer, who's running to replace Rep. Michele Bachmann in the 6th Congressional District, told Central Minnesota Tea Party members Tuesday night he'll look for more federal spending on transportation and infrastructure in the district. (MPR News)

Big defense contractors are weathering the federal budget sequester far more easily than they projected, in part because they have gradually eliminated jobs over the past few years in anticipation of spending cuts. (Washington Post)

As the House debates how to proceed on immigration, Iowa GOP Rep. Steve King, who's an influential conservative, said many of the immigrants who were brought into illegally as children are criminals, which prompted condemnation from Republican leaders.  (Roll Call)

The U.S. Senate is likely to vote today on an agreement that would let federal student loan rates rise but keep them from doubling but many Democrats aren't happy about the deal.  (Roll Call)