The Morning Report 2/26/08 - Daily Minnesota Political Stories

Top Stories: House votes to override Pawlenty veto of transportation bill, FDA urges Duluth to stop importing drugs from Canada, State’s budget deficit could double, Anti-terror ad targets Rep. Tim Walz, Pawlenty wary as governors target stimulus package, U unveils new web site for emergency situations.

Agriculture:

• U biofuels study has farmers upset, Star Tribune
• High crop prices mean good outlook for Minnesota farmers, AP
• Minneapolis wheat leads the charge, AgWeb
  

Best of the Blogs and Think Tank Thoughts:

• Anatomy of an override, Politics in Minnesota
• Override: What does it mean?, MPR Polinaut
• Gang of 8 tax & spend (R)epublicans for ‘08, True North
• Transportation Bill override: It was complicated, mnpACT!
• Statement from Gov. Pawlenty regarding override, MN Democrats Exposed
• Lewis: McCain has better choices than Pawlenty, MN Monitor
• Who to build, how to build, where to build?, SCSU Scholars
• Override react, Mary’s Page - TPT
• Impressive speeches, great perspectives, Let Freedom Ring
• The biggest [blank] in history, Across the Great Divide
• Tear down this Walz, Power Line Blog
  

Business/Economy:

• Medtronic slapped with $10 million fine, Star Tribune
• State’s budget deficit could double, MPR
• Minneapolis considers cash incentive to help some home buyers, Star Tribune
  

Campaigns:

• Ciresi confident he’s the best candidate, Hometown Source
• Anti-war Democrats ponder next step, AP. MoveOn.org will spend at least $5 million targeting congressional seats, including Norm Coleman’s.
• Democratic governors see McCain as formidable, Washington Post. Pawlenty cites McCain’s work on global warming and his efforts to overhaul immigration law as characteristics that give him appeal beyond the traditional Republican coalition.

Congress-House:

• Anti-terror ad targets Rep. Tim Walz, Owatonna People’s Press

Education:

• Minneapolis district’s ambitious plan to remake its seven high schools has flown under the radar, MinnPost
• Willmar School Board has high hopes for online parent service, West Central Tribune
• Study: Baltimore academia’s state impact is $17.2 billion, Dolan Media Newswires

Environment:

• Straight-pipe communities in Minnesota, Star Tribune
• Rebecca Otto lives completely ‘green’, KSTP. Fourteen years ago, she built an energy-independent house that is still going strong.

Health Care:

• FDA urges city to stop importing drugs from Canada, Duluth News Tribune
• St. Paul teachers examine health insurance options, Star Tribune
  

Labor:

• International Machinists union opposes any airline mergers, MPR
• Carpenters demonstrate to support strong wages, benefits, Workday MN
  

Legislature:

• House votes to override Pawlenty veto of transportation bill, Pioneer Press
• House and Senate override governor’s veto on transportation bill, MPR
• After the override, the fallout, MPR
• Sen. Marty’s gift ban was ahead of the curve, MinnPost
• Override may cost other tax bills, KSTP
  

Media:

• Rake Magazine to cease publication, MinnPost
• The Rake closes down, Lambert to the Slaughter
  
• Rake magazine to go online only, Star Tribune
• All the news that fits–and then some, The Rake

Opinion-Commentary:

• Nick Coleman: Business group helps legislators do the right thing, Star Tribune
• Paula Ruddy: Young sex-abuse victims need extension of time for suits, MinnPost
• Kent Kaiser: State should stick with caucus system, St. Cloud Times
  

Opinion-Editorial:

• Editorial: Road bill veto will be expensive, Mankato Free Press
• Editorial: State’s future wins when logjam breaks, Star Tribune
• Editorial: Restrictions on young drivers will boost safety, St. Cloud Times
  

Pawlenty:

• Pawlenty wary as governors target stimulus package, AP
• Govs. seeking more infrastructure money, AP. Pawlenty says, ‘”In terms of an immediate boost, there’s a lag time between when those things get approved and we actually get dirt moving.’
• McCain’s veep problem, National Review Online
• Governor Tim Pawlenty proclaims Thursday, Feb. 28, as ‘Carlson Day’ in Minnesota, PR Newswire
  

Press Releases:

• Minnesota registered nurses promote law to improve patient care and address health care costs, PR Newswire

Public Health/Safety:

• U unveils new web site for emergency situations, WCCO
• Lawmakers seek greater scrutiny of school buses, MPR
• OSHA fines Superior company after four workers die, AP
  

Republican National Convention:

• St. Paul police adopt new guidelines ahead of GOP convention, AP

St. Paul/Minneapolis:

• Mpls. non-profits receive technology grant money, KSTP
  

Transportation:

• The Big Borrow: Critiquing the Republican transportation alternative, MinnPost
• Transportation bill ‘good news’ for Minnesotans, West Central Tribune

Z-File: Irresistible stories beyond the purview of PIM

• Wanna lift up your game? Play a round of golf in the skyway, Star Tribune
• Hmm. Tiny, evil — and everywhere?, Washington Post. Not just bedbugs, bedbug stories…’It’s what happens when you combine a creepy villain, primal fear and squishy statistics.’