The Daily Digest (Dayton in San Francisco, same sex marriage legal, ATF nominee confirmed)
Good morning!
In Minnesota
Gov. Mark Dayton's most recent mystery trip out of state was to San Francisco. (Star Tribune)
Republican Scott Honour's campaign for governor was endorsed by Kurt Bills, the Republican who lost the U.S. Senate race last year by more than 30 points. (Minnpost)
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State lawmakers are criticizing the Minnesota Law Enforcement Association (MLEA) for refusing to provide financial data to the Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) for a study of union fair-share fees. (MPR News)
Same-sex marriage became legal in Minnesota at midnight. (MPR News)
Watch DFL U.S. Rep. Ellison's musical tribute to same-sex marriage here.
Meanwhile, the Mayo Clinic says its Minnesota employees who are in same-sex domestic partnerships will have to get married if they want their partners to remain eligible for health insurance. (AP)
In Washington/National Politics
The Senate voted in dramatic fashion Wednesday to approve B. Todd Jones as the head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. For Democrats to prevail, all it took was a last-ditch vote switch by one senator, a flight back from North Dakota by another and an afternoon roll call that stretched into the evening. (MPR News & AP)
A bill sponsored by 2nd District Rep. John Kline that will reduce the costs of borrowing for millions of college students passed the U.S. House by a wide majority on Wednesday. DFL Rep. Keith Ellison was the sole member of the Minnesota delegation to oppose the bill. (Star Tribune)
State Sen. Julianne Ortman, R-Chanhassen, has scheduled a Saturday news conference in Waconia to announce her “political plans for the immediate future.” She is widely expected to announce she’s running for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by DFLer Al Franken. (MPR News)
Sen. Al Franken criticized the leadership of the National Security Agency for releasing documents about the agency’s collection of Americans’ phone records shortly before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the subject began today. (MPR News)
With support collapsing, a $44.1 billion transportation and housing bill was pulled abruptly from the House floor Wednesday, and top Republicans conceded it was another sign that the party’s budget strategy is unraveling. (Politico)
When Washington forgot how to negotiate: the farm bill as case study. (National Journal)
For laughs, read this tale of a hapless (and drunk) intern with a crush on Paul Ryan. (Roll Call)