Daily Digest: Presidents Day edition

Good morning and happy Presidents Day, the holiday that used to be known as George Washington's birthday. His actually birthday isn't until Wednesday (it's number 286), and people celebrated it as a holiday when he was still alive, which must have been a little awkward for him. The day didn't become an official federal holiday until 1879. Lincoln's birthday was on Feb. 12. For some people it's a good day to buy a new mattress. Anyway, on to the Digest.

1. The Minnesota House is expected to vote later today on allowing liquor stores to do business on Sundays. It's an issue that has been around for years that the public seems to support but hasn't mustered enough votes to pass in the Legislature. House Speaker Kurt Daudt, R- Zimmerman, is predicting the measure will pass, but prospects are still uncertain in the Senate. (WCCO TV )

2. Gov. Mark Dayton put a $300 million tax-cut plan on the table in January, but Republicans in the Legislature are likely to up the ante. More than 100 tax bills have been introduced in the Senate, and House members are wading through 200-plus proposals. Some ideas appear to have bi-partisan support. Calling Dayton’s offer “bread and crumbs from his table,” Senate Taxes Committee Chairman Roger Chamberlain, R-Lino Lakes, said: “We’re going to offer something that could potentially offer Minnesotans thousands of dollars of extra income every week, every month throughout the year in increased wages, lower prices and new opportunities.” (Pioneer Press)

3. The chief sponsor of a bill in the Minnesota House that would prevent cities from adopting their own labor standards for businesses says that if cities controlled by Democrats raise wages or require paid leave, that Republican-led municipalities could also pass right-to-work ordinances. No Minnesota cities have actually done so yet, and some lawmakers say they believe the issue is not a priority in city halls or at the Capitol this year. Opponents of Republican Pat Garofalo’s bill said his argument is a distraction and that he hasn’t provided evidence of the idea taking root in local governments. (Star Tribune)

4. New Hampshire Democrat Ray Buckley dropped out of the race for Democratic National Committee chair over the weekend and threw his support behind Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison. Buckley's announcement came a week before DNC members gather in Atlanta to choose a new chair. Ellison and former Labor Secretary Tom Perez are seen as the main contenders. (AP via MPR News)

5. The Homeland Security Department has drafted new guidelines aimed at detaining and deporting immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, according to a pair of memoranda signed by DHS Secretary John Kelly. The memos dated Friday seek to implement President Trump's broad directive to crack down on illegal immigration. Kelly outlines plans to hire thousands of additional enforcement agents, expand on the priority list for immigrants marked for immediate removal and enlist local law enforcement to help make arrests. The memos leave in place one directive from the Obama administration, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which allows young people who were brought into the country illegally as children to stay and obtain work permits.  (AP)

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