The Daily Digest: 12-23-08

The latest numbers from the Secretary of State's office show Democrat Al Franken with a 48-vote lead over GOP Sen. Norm Coleman. The State Canvassing Board meets today to accept the unofficial numbers.

MPR, AP, the Star Tribune and the Pi Press have stories.

The Minnesota Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing today regarding the Coleman campaign's arguments over duplicate ballots today.

Recount specialist Benjamin Ginsberg is helping Coleman with recount efforts. Ginsberg worked for President Bush during the 2000 recount and also has ties to the Swiftboat Veterans for Truth.

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State Government

Legislators may look at the sales tax for clothing and food.

The Met Council swats down MPR's objections to the Central Corridor line.

Metro Transit faces additional financial struggles.

Violent crime falls again in Minneapolis.

Minnesota Monthly profiles Attorney General Lori Swanson.

Economy

Loggers struggle in light of the timber industry slump.

U.S. snowmobile sales are down, but sales worldwide are growing.

Congress

As Associated Press investigation finds that bank officials won't say how they're spending the federal bailout money.

Some small toy makers are not happy with the new toy safety law. DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar is mentioned.

Klobuchar is cautioning parents to buy safe toys.

A European group is the first to bring credit default swaps onto an exchange platform. DFL Rep. Collin Peterson is mentioned.

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann wants more transparency in budgeting.

2010

DFL Sen. John Marty forms an exploratory committee for governor. He ran and lost in 1994. MPR, the Star Tribune and AP have stories.