The Daily Digest (Schools, politics and payback)
Should be an interesting mix of policy and intrigue at the Capitol today as the House Ways and Means Committee digs into Gov. Dayton's budget plan and people chew over ex-Senate leader Amy Koch's accusations of back-stabbing and lies by allies that led to her political downfall.
State
Amy Koch: Affair gave GOP foes opportunity (Star Tribune)
"Former Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch lays much of the blame for her tumultuous resignation from leadership a year ago on former political deputies who, she says, saw a rare opportunity to knock her aside and lead the Senate."
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Dayton budget would boost school-based mental health funding (MPR News)
"Gov. Dayton wants to double state funding for mental health programs in schools. The new money would pay for independent mental health professionals to support existing school programs."
Minnesota budget: DFL leaders cite concerns with Dayton plan (Pioneer Press)
House Majority Leader Erin Murphy says DFL lawmakers want to be "a little more aggressive" than Gov. Dayton on paying money to schools that was held back to balance state budgets.
Dayton's public transit proposal: Backers question funding plan (Pioneer Press)
Transit supporters applaud Gov. Dayton's plan to raise more than $200 million per year for new bus and passenger rail services through a metro sales tax increases but they want to know who will control the money and if the east metro will get its share.
Sales taxes for online purchases may be part of Minn. revenue mix (MPR News)
Lawmakers weigh a plan to tax businesses in Minnesota that sell products through Amazon or other online retailers.
Nation
Key senators agree on sweeping immigration reform (CBS News)
Pentagon to beef up cybersecurity force to counter attacks (New York Times)
Iowa's Harkin won't seek 6th Senate term (Associated Press)
Across the nation, new health care markets on the way (Associated Press)
Paul Ryan says Bill Clinton would have helped fix fiscal mess (Washington Post)