The Morning Report 12/20/07 - Daily Minnesota Political Stories

Top Stories: Legislature launches fresh MnDOT probe [Strib, MPR, PiPress]; Non-profits may lose property tax exemption; Loophole left open for Ramstad’s return; Minnesotans spending more on health care, Coalition seeks $60M to combat homelessness, Pool safety bill signed by President Bush; Law Prof: ‘Internet Radicalization’ bill leads to new McCarthyism.

Agriculture:

• New biofuel mandate a boon for corn farmers, NPR

Best of the Blogs and Think Tank Thoughts:

• Move roads not homes, TC Daily Planet. [audio]
• The Rammer coming back?, MN Publius
• Psst, wanna ride a train?, SCSU Scholars
  
• How to win the Iron Range, MN Blue
  
• MN GOP press release - Franken’s YouTube moment, MN Democrats Exposed
  
• Citizenship delayed…indefinitely, TC Daily Planet
• Legislature wants to know: Is MnDOT culpable for bridge collapse?, MN Monitor
• Norm Coleman votes for yet another blank check for Iraq, MN Blue
• Interview with J. Ashwin Madia, Sepia Mutiny
• Does it matter where and how you travel?, MN 2020
  

Business/Economy:

• Alliant gets contract to keep operating Army ammunition plant, Star Tribune
• General Mills profit edges higher in 2Q on strong revenue growth, AP
• Non-profits may lose property tax exemption, MPR
• Mortgage crisis hits home for working families, Workday MN
  
• Federal spending bills includes regional projects, Rochester Post-Bulletin
• UnitedHealth wants to know pay plan for disgraced adversary, AP
  
• Those not-so-flexible spending accounts, MPR
• Many counties seeing big levy jumps next year, Rochester Post-Bulletin
• VEEDA Board looks for a ‘point person,’ Mesabi Daily News. Virginia-Eveleth Economic Development Authority.
  
• St. Louis Park’s citywide wireless network project at a standstill, KSTP
  

Campaigns:

• Meet Steve Sarvi; Legislative action heats up, Star Tribune

Congress-House:

• Loophole left open for Ramstad’s return, Star Tribune
• Minnesota Rep. Jim Ramstad deflects rumors that he is reconsidering retirement, AP
• Ramstad could decide to stay, Roll Call
  

Congress-Senate:

• Republican voters narrow field in Minn. Senate primary, KSTP

Education:

• Hennepin Co. secures $15 million for new Mpls. library, KSTP
• In support of public schools, MPR
• North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale and Mahtomedi school districts reach new contracts with teachers, Pioneer Press

Environment:

• Minnesota lawmaker proposes earlier fishing opener, Pioneer Press
• Athletic club’s owner will finance project featuring wetlands, Rochester Post-Bulletin
  

Health Care:

• Minnesotans spending more on health care, MPR
• Health care takes hefty bite out of Minnesotans’ incomes, Star Tribune

I-35W Bridge Collapse:

• MnDOT to face another inquiry, Star Tribune
• Panel OKs legislative probe of MnDOT, Pioneer Press
• Legislature launches its own bridge probe, MPR

Labor:

• City educators watch union’s case closely, St. Cloud Times
  

Media:

• Chris Harte - The Star Tribune’s Maine man, MinnPost
• Retraction, Star Tribune. Regarding a December 14 story describing a court ruling.

Opinion-Commentary:

• Anne White, Carol Swenson: An argument for more light rail stations along University Avenue, Pioneer Press
• Law Prof. Peter Erlinder: Inherent powers, ignoble history make new idea anything but innocuous, Pioneer Press. If this “Son of HUAC” becomes law, any political, religious or social activist is fair game for HUAC-like congressional hearings. [PIM Staff: This scares some of us. Really.]

Opinion-Editorial:

• Editorial: Legislature must pierce fog at MnDOT, Star Tribune
• Editorial: Options are needed in education, St. Cloud Times
• Editorial: Rising health care costs now affects insured, Bemidji Pioneer
  

Pawlenty:

• Pawlenty presents awards to those who play intricate roles in helping troops upon return from combat, West Central Tribune
• Pawlenty backs new plan to end homelessness, KSTP

Public Health/Safety:

• Coalition seeks $60M to combat homelessness, Pioneer Press
• Committee’s goal is to provide county residents access to healthy foods, West Central Tribune
  
• More students skip alcohol, meth, Pioneer Press
• Pool safety bill signed by President Bush, AP
• Day-care center taking baby steps, Mankato Free Press
  

St. Paul/Minneapolis:

• St. Paul public works budget in hole, Pioneer Press
• One big-city Wi-Fi success story in Minneapolis, Wi-Fi Networking News
  

Transportation:

• Sauk Rapids bridge over Mississippi close to being dismantled, AP