The Daily Digest: State level races cost at least $28 million
Good morning!
In Minnesota
Between money spent by the parties, political groups and the two major candidates for governor, Minnesota’s 2014 campaign cost at least $28 million. (MPR News)
The aftermath of the 2014 election left the Minnesota Republican Party with $1.5 million in debt and just $4,000 cash in the bank, according to federal and state reports. (Pioneer Press)
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A proposed Minnesota constitutional amendment would protect text messages, e-mails and other electronic data from warrantless searches, but the initiative faces hurdles from some lawmakers who say such communications are already protected under current law. (Star Tribune)
Lawmakers are considering a request for $2 million to help defray the millions of dollars spent by four Minnesota hospitals designated to treat Ebola cases. (Rochester Post Bulletin)
A Minnesota House panel advanced legislation that would create a statewide emergency alert when police officers are killed or seriously wounded. (MPR News)
There was some good news for Minnesota’s planned Southwest LRT project buried in President Obama’s 2016 budget request: he wants to give the line $150 million to begin construction next year. But getting that cash will require everything to work out just right. (MinnPost)
A coalition of labor, faith and community groups is hoping to make Minnesota the fourth state in the country to guarantee paid sick time off for workers. (MPR News)
Gov. Mark Dayton, who rarely misses a chance to bash Minnesota's neighbors to the east, has branded a TV ad campaign for Wisconsin tourism as "one of the most idiotic things I've ever seen." (Star Tribune)
National Politics
Senate Democrats blocked a Republican bill that would finance the Department of Homeland Security, objecting to a measure that would have gutted President Obama’s recent executive actions on immigration. (New York Times)
A slew of Republicans eyeing the White House rushed to praise the virtues of vaccination on Tuesday — distancing themselves from Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who had appeared to question their safety as health officials across the country move to contain an outbreak of measles. (Politico)
Some Democrats may boycott Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to Congress next month to protest what they say was a politicized invitation and Netanyahu's attempts to undercut the Obama Administration's negotiations with Iran. (Politico)
Democratic Rep. Tim Walz's measure requiring the Veteran's Administration to evaluate its suicide prevention program and more adequately build up psychiatry services passed the Senate Tuesday 99-0 and now heads to President Barack Obama's desk. (Star Tribune)