The Daily Digest (Cities squeezed by pension costs, Klobuchar backs filibuster changes)
Welcome to Monday's edition of The Daily Digest.
Local governments in Minnesota are feeling the pain of dramatic increases in pension costs in recent years.
In Washington, Democrats in the Senate are poised to consider rule changes that would restrict the use of the filibuster for some of the president's nominees.
And yet another Republican is considering a run at Gov. Mark Dayton in 2014.
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Minnesota
Cities feel squeeze of pension increases (Pioneer Press) The rising pension rates are partly responsible for some higher property taxes, service reductions and staff cutbacks at local governments.
Health care town hall meeting set for Tuesday (MPR News) State lawmakers plan to hold a public meeting tomorrow to answer questions about how the federal health care law will affect Minnesotans.
U.S. education secretary to visit Minnesota (Star Tribune) U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is pushing President Barack Obama’s plan to expand early childhood education.
Brodkorb: List of names isn't my only evidence of Capitol affairs (Associated Press via Pioneer Press) Former state Senate staffer Michael Brodkorb says he has more evidence of affairs at the Capitol than just the list of names in a document that emerged last week. Brodkorb says he’s provided video, audio and other documents to back up his lawsuit.
Wisconsin pushes abortion restrictions (Star Tribune) Minnesota’s less restrictive abortion laws are now an anomaly in the Upper Midwest, where neighboring states have some of the toughest abortion laws in the country.
Washington state's gay marriage journey offers lessons for Minnesota (Star Tribune) Washington’s legalization of same-sex marriage has created new markets for businesses but has also laid bare fundamental disagreements between opponents and supporters of same-sex marriage.
St. Paul Saints pledges another million for ballpark (MPR News) St. Paul still needs to find another $8 million to cover the $63 million project. The city initially underestimated the cost for the ballpark.
National
Klobuchar backs filibuster rule change (MinnPost) U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar says she supports a Senate proposal that would restrict the use of the filibuster in executive branch appointments. The restriction wouldn’t apply to judicial nominees or legislation.
Napolitano Stepping Down as Homeland Security Chief (New York Times) Janet Napolitano has announced that she will step down as secretary of Homeland Security in September to head the University of California.
Anger flows at acquittal of George Zimmerman in death of Trayvon Martin (Washington Post) The "not guilty" verdict in the criminal case of George Zimmerman brought protests across the country. The Justice Department may pursue a civil rights case.
2014
Rosen still mulling run for governor (MPR News) State Sen. Julie Rosen said she’s still deciding whether she’ll join the growing ranks of Republicans hoping to challenge DFL Gov. Mark Dayton.
Former Montana Governor Won’t Run for Senate in 2014 (New York Times) Brian Schweitzer, former Montana governor, disappointed Democrats when he announced that he will not run for the Senate seat left empty by U.S. Sen. Max Baucus. Democrats are scrambling to keep their Senate majority intact.