The Daily Digest: Special session today

You read that right: Our long awaited special session has arrived.

The big question is whether it will actually be a success.

Minnesota:

After late-night caucus meetings, all four legislative leaders and Gov. Mark Dayton have agreed to hold a special session today at 10 a.m. (MPR News)

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But don't get too excited yet. Some Senate DFLers aren’t happy with the agriculture and environment budget bill that they say rolls back environmental protections.

Watch the likes of Sens. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, John Marty, DFL-Roseville, and Jeff Hayden, DFL-Minneapolis, during votes today. They're on the record as saying they're unhappy with the bill - and the process that produced the legislation - and the question is whether they will stand their ground or cave to the will of their leadership to wrap things up.

That leaves DFL Sen. Tom Bakk relying on Republican votes to pass the bill, and he said he's not sure the votes are there.

It's not every day that you see rank-and-file liberals opposing their leadership and governor so blatantly. So, if you're like me, I bet you're wondering, "How the heck did things end up this way?" (MPR News)

FYI: There will be no "grandstanding" during today's one-day session. (MPR News)

And for something completely different: A prominent state official will become CEO of a Minnesota-based medical cannabis company. (MPR News)

Washington:

A law that went into effect during Jeb Bush's tenure as Florida governor required pregnant women to publish the names of their sexual partners in local papers in an effort to find the father of their unborn child before adoption. (NPR via MPR News)

President Barack Obama's trade initiative faces a big hurdle in the U.S. House today. (Politico)

No House Democrat votes against his party more than Rep. Collin Peterson. (The Washington Post)

Members of Minnesota's Washington delegation want answers on why some Minnesota vets paid higher co-pays. (The Star Tribune)