The Daily Digest: Medtronic, Iraq
It's Monday already, folks. Here are some political stories you may have missed over the weekend.
Minnesota:
Medtronic's decision to acquire an Irish company and combine executive offices in Ireland is creating some ripples in Minnesota politics.
Gov. Mark Dayton issued a statement saying in part, "We were assured that the company intends to keep its operational headquarters here in Minnesota and that no jobs will be lost here due to this transaction. Company officials also told us that Medtronic intends to create over 1,000 new medical technology-related jobs in Minnesota during the next five years, in corporate management, research and development, engineering, and manufacturing."
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One of Dayton's GOP rivals, Marty Seifert, said Dayton is in part to blame for the move:
"Because of the failed policies of Mark Dayton and Barack Obama's destructive medical device tax, companies like Medtronic are forced to look outside of Minnesota to continue doing business. This is a sad day for our state's economy and its workforce."
Scott Honour, who is running in the primary to be the Republican nominee to run against Dayton says he raised $320,000 since the end of March. At least $250,000 of that came from Honour's own pockets.
Gov. Dayton was in Rochester touting $35 million the Legislature allocated to renovate the Mayo Civic Center. (MPR News)
GOP gubernatorial hopeful Marty Seifert says he doesn't take lobbyist money. PoliGraph says his claim is misleading. (MPR News)
State legislators are leaving the Capitol for county work - and getting paid much more. (Star Tribune)
The Green Line opened on Saturday. (MPR News)
Washington:
The U.S. is evacuating embassy workers in Iraq in light of violence there. (The New York Times)
President Barack Obama has ruled out sending more troops to Iraq, but may pursue other options. (NPR via MPR News)