The Daily Digest (Obama in MN, Romney not playing in MN, Copper-Nickel leases approved)
President Obama is in Minnesota today to hold an event at a Honeywell facility in Golden Valley. He's also holding three fundraisers in Minneapolis for his campaign.
Obama will announce an executive action aimed at helping veterans find jobs.
MPR reports that while Obama's campaign is actively organizing in Minnesota, Republican Mitt Romney's campaign is virtually nonexistent.
Jack Meeks, who chairs Romney's 2012 steering committee in Minnesota, says he expects Romney to make a campaign visit to Minnesota in the next few months but had no other details.
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Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who attended the Michigan Republican Convention instead of the MNGOP Convention in May, is holding a conference call to rip Obama's Minnesota's visit.
Pawlenty, who failed in his White House bid, has become a surrogate for Romney. He traveled to several state GOP conventions to speak on Romney's behalf (North Carolina this weekend) but didn't show up to Minnesota's convention last month.
AP says Minnesota could test Obama's influence on same-sex marriage.
Romney appeared at the former headquarters for failed solar company Solyndra to criticize President Obama.
Surrogates for Obama and Romney engaged in verbal jousting in Boston.
Former President Bill Clinton undermined some of Obama's attacks on Bain Capital (and Romney).
Politico says the economic performances in swing states favor President Obama.
Under the Dome
Minnesota approved the sale of copper-nickel exploration leases.
DEED has started taking applications for the $47.5 million in grants from the bonding bill. The deadline is June 26. Officials from the St. Paul Saints, Southwest LRT, the St. Cloud Convention Center, the Mayo Civic Center and the Mankato Civic Center all say they will apply for the money.
Two of the state's public employee unions have reached a tentative agreement with the state of Minnesota.
DFL Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk says he wants a public hearing before he signs off on the Senate's $46,000 legal bill from the Michael Brodkorb/Amy Koch affair.
Gov. Dayton says Rep. Morrie Lanning, who announced he isn't running for reelection, is "extremely well qualified" for the new stadium commission.
Minnesota's Attorney General Lori Swanson questions North Memorial and debt collector Accretive Health.
Secretary of State Mark Ritchie says the state shouldn't pick up the tab for partisan redistricting work.
Economy
The U.S. and European countries are scrambling to get a handle on the euro-zone's financial crisis.
The European Central Bank President is urging European countries to try something new and warns the current system is unsustainable.
Jobless aid filings are at a 5-week high.
A new study says more Minnesota children are living in poverty.
GE bets on green cars in Eden Prairie.
Congress
Republicans are considering options to break the student loan impasse.
The House shoots down a ban on sex-selective abortions. It passed with a majority of the votes but needed a two-thirds majority.
A House panel approved a repeal of the medical device tax. GOP Rep. Erik Paulsen is mentioned.
A federal appeals court ruled against the federal Defense of Marriage Act. The ruling means the U.S. Supreme Court is likely to hear the case.
Several environmental groups are calling for cuts to crop insurance.
DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar says she's optimistic about the passage of the Farm Bill.
DFL Rep. Tim Walz is introducing "sodsaver legislation" into this year's Farm Bill.
Party Politics
The DFL Party's state convention is this weekend. The party is planning a quiet event in Rochester to endorse U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar.
Former President Bill Clinton will headline the DFL Party's Humphrey-Mondale Dinner.
Former Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards has been acquitted on one count and a mistrial was declared on five others.
The verdict is a blow to public corruption prosecutions.
Race for Legislature
The state's legislative races are expected to draw a lot of attention and money. 50 Republicans filed for the Minnesota House on Thursday. The group said they would not support tax hikes to fix future budget problems.
GOP Rep. Morrie Lanning is retiring.
Race for Congress
Democrat Jim Graves filed to run against GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann.