The Daily Digest (Dayton wants tax bill, caretakers want raise, GOP tsunami?)

Welcome to the Daily Digest.

Minnesota:

Gov. Mark Dayton wants the Legislature to pass a tax bill now, and said Senate Democrats are dragging their feet until they get approval for a new office building. (MPR News)

The tax bill Dayton wants would include a major expansion of the child care tax credit. (MPR News)

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People who take care of the elderly and disabled want the state to give them a 5 percent raise. (MPR News)

Insurance companies and doctors oppose a bill that would address high insurance rates in Southeast Minnesota. (MPR News)

Senate DFLers released a a bill that would increase the state's budget reserves by $150 million. (MPR News)

Long-time GOP operative Pat Shortridge has formed a new political fund to help state legislators. In particular, he wants to raise money for Republicans who are conservative, but who also voted in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage. (MPR News)

Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk said that it's unlikely the Legislature will pass a bill that would give tax breaks to help Minnesota land a Super Bowl. (MPR News)

Interest groups spent more than $65 million lobbying last year. (MPR News)

More children and teenagers are being poisoned by e-cigarette fluid than in previous years. (Star Tribune)

A bill that would allow the state health department to keep newborn blood samples and test results indefinitely cleared its final House committee. (MPR News)

Washington:

Members of Minnesota's Washington delegation are weighing in on the PolyMet Mine. (MPR News)

Russia formally claimed Crimea for its own. (New York Times)

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus says a ban on "soft money" should be reversed to fund the party's presidential nominating conventions. (The Washington Post)

Priebus also predicts that 2014 will be a "tsunami" for his party.  That includes Sen. Al Franken's seat, he says. (St. Cloud Times)