The Daily Digest (MNsure resignation, Senate DFL fined $100K)

Good morning! Lots of big news today.

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In Minnesota

The head of Minnesota's health insurance exchange, MNsure, resigned from the position amid mounting concerns about the website's ability to get uninsured people coverage. (MPR News)

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Archbishop John Nienstedt is accused of inappropriately touching a minor in 2009 and has temporarily stepped down. St. Paul police say the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis is not cooperating with an ongoing criminal investigation into clergy sexual abuse. (MPR News)

State Rep, Tom Huntley, DFL-Duluth announced today that he will not seek re-election to a 12

th

 term in 2014. (MPR News)

Democrats in the Minnesota Senate must pay a $100,000 fine to settle campaign finance complaints filed against them by Republicans in 2012. (MPR News)

A legislative panel will recommend abolishing 37 state advisory boards, councils and task forces that rarely meet. (Pioneer Press)

In Congress/National Politics

Leaders of the nation’s biggest technology firms warned President Obama during a lengthy meeting at the White House on Tuesday that National Security Agency spying programs are damaging their reputations and could harm the broader economy. (Washington Post)

President Obama has chosen a former Microsoft executive to finish repairs on the government’s health insurance website. (New York Times)

A new report issued by DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar says manufacturing in the U.S. has rebounded since the depths of the recession but Congress needs to do more to promote education and investment for manufacturers. (Star Tribune)

Two Republicans and one Democrat announced their retirements from the U.S. House in one day. (Roll Call)

For the third year in a row, DFL Sen. Al Franken has organized a holiday gift exchange for fellow senators. (NPR)