The Daily Digest
Governor Dayton will release his plan for education today.
He will appear with Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius, one of the members of Dayton's cabinet.
MPR says Dayton's cabinet is considered heavy on experience but light on politics.
House and Senate negotiators will start work on finding common ground on a bill that would cut nearly $1 billion in state spending. The Minnesota Senate passed the bill yesterday on a party line vote.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.
The photo ID bill got its first hearing in the Minnesota House.
The Senate also passed a bill that would allow for another pathway for teaching.
The Star Tribune says groups are lining up against any efforts to change the state's sales tax laws. Side note: I don't think anyone has even talked about a sales tax hike since the IP's Tom Horner lost the race.
Gov. Dayton says the airport needs more options.
MnDOT is prepping its plan to hire more women and minority contractors.
Congress
The U.S. and Egypt are in talks to move the political transition of power forward.
The House GOP releases a plan to slash billions of dollars in state spending but still fall short of their pledge.
The Obama Administration offers states ideas on how to cut Medicaid.
Federal funds for Central Corridor are 99.9% certain.
The White House Asian carp director is hopeful for a solution.
DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar says she's introducing a bill that would create a national renewable energy standard.
DFL Sen. Al Franken says he won't make any earmark requests this year.
Franken will speak in Vermont in March.
DFL Rep. Tim Walz continues to hold "Congress on your Corner" events.
USA Today says groups are ramping up their lobbying as new regulations loom. One example is for-profit colleges, which gave $15,000 to GOP Rep. John Kline's fundraising committee in 2010. Kline chairs the House Education and Workforce Committee.
A freshman Congressman says he is not anti-Muslim nor anti-Islam after he made comments saying DFL Rep. Keith Ellison represents the "antithesis" of American values.
The St. Cloud Times takes a look at essential air service, a program GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann has put on the chopping block.
2012 Race for U.S. Senate
Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek says he's not interested in running for the U.S. Senate in 2012. The GOP field for 2012 got a little smaller.
2012 Race for Congress
A group affiliated with Karl Rove, is running an ad supporting GOP Rep. Chip Cravaack. The ad comes less than a week after the DCCC ran an ad criticizing him.
Party Politics
Democrats meet on Saturday to elect a new DFL Party Chair to succeed Brian Melendez. Ken Martin, who most recently ran the umbrella organization that oversaw The Alliance for a Better Minnesota, is the only candidate running and is expected to get the nod.
Pawlenty for Prez Watch
Tim Pawlenty is in Illinois today to sign books.
Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad squashed a Washington Post report that said he was in Pawlenty's camp.
Norm Coleman is headed to Israel with Missippi Gov. Haley Barbour.
John McCain has no plans to endorse anyone in 2012.
Bachmann for Prez Watch
FrumForum says GOP leadership has a simple strategy for dealing with Michele Bachmann: Ignore her.