The Daily Digest (Brodkorb lawyer withdraws, special session, deeper food stamp cuts proposed)

Good morning!

The Daily Digest will be taking a break from the news until September.  Have a good August, everyone!

In Minnesota

The Republican candidates for governor met for a forum for party loyalists last night. They mostly agreed on tax and spending issues. Most said they would work to reduce the state’s tax burden and overall government spending. Where they differed was on style and their background. (MPR News)

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.

The lead attorney representing Michael Brodkorb in his lawsuit against the Minnesota Senate has withdrawn from the case because of an errant filing that released private documents to the public. (MPR News)

Gov. Mark Dayton is in preliminary talks with legislative leaders about a one-day special legislative session to deliver disaster aid to 18 counties that had heavy damage from storms in late June. (MPR News)

Teach for America is having a hard time placing teachers in Minnesota this year because the state teachers union and others are questioning how well TFA prepares its trainees for the classroom. (MPR News)

A few demonstrators from a controversial church in Topeka, Kan., came to Minnesota today to protest the first day of same-sex marriage in the state. (MPR News)

In Washington/National Politics

Job growth remains sluggish as American employers added 162,000 jobs in July, fewer than expected, with the previous two months revised downward slightly as well. (New York Times)

It's the last day Congress will be in session until after Labor Day. This week, congressional Republicans tacitly rejected both ending the budget sequester and making even deeper cuts , leaving frustrated lawmakers wondering how they will manage to keep the government open past September. (Washington Post)

House Republicans are preparing legislation that would cut food stamps by as much as $4 billion annually in an effort to downsize a program that many conservatives say has become too bloated in recent years. (AP)

President Obama on Thursday nominated John Koskinen to head the embattled Internal Revenue Service. Koskinen has a reputation as a government agency turnaround specialist. (Washington Post)

Allowing the Postal Service to deliver beer, wine and spirits is high on his wish list for raising cash for his financially ailing agency, said Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe. (AP)