The Morning Report 2/27/08 - Daily Minnesota Political Stories

Top Stories: Transportation bill was delicate deal, but Pawlenty predicts a ‘tax revolt’, Higher gas tax not playing well in Anoka, Six GOP legislators stripped of leadership positions, Minnesota could face $1 billion deficit, Delta executives: No deal yet that meets all goals, Compromises move Central Corridor light rail toward a milestone, $1B bonding bill OK’d by Minnesota Senate panel.



Agriculture:

• Wheat futures surpass $12 a bushel for first time on supply shortage, AP
• Cargill puts off plans for new ethanol plant, Star Tribune
• Soybean groups withhold money from U because of study, MinnPost
  

Best of the Blogs and Think Tank Thoughts:

• An argument worth having, SCSU Scholars
• The gang of six get disciplined, MPR Polinaut
• Clowntime is over, True North
• Rep. Abeler answers his critics, Ladies Logic
• House Republican Caucus: Moderates need not apply #3, MN Publius
• Fallout ‘08: RINO lead committee positions replaced, True North
• Keep on the sunny side, Fraters Libertas
  
• Bachmann calls for gun ownership in public housing, MN Monitor
• Thoughts on the Ciresi $2M self-contrib, MN Publius
• Minnesota finally moves forward on transportation challenges, Growth & Justice
  
• Governors who’ve been overridden, The Political Animal
• Judges wary of bloggers, MN Lawyer Blog
• Shelby OK after “transitory incident,” Lambert to the Slaughter
  
  

Business/Economy:

• Delta executives: No deal yet that meets all goals, AP
• Minnesota could face $1 billion deficit, Star Tribune
• Former partner suing Dorsey & Whitney law firm, Star Tribune
• House might mediate U-on-TV issue, Pioneer Press
• End of biofuel payments prompts numerous questions, West Central Tribune
• Xcel wins recognition as a corporate citizen, Red Wing Republican Eagle
  

Campaigns:

• Franken gets Service Employees International Union endorsement, AP

Crime/Police:

• St. Paul prostitution sting nets New Brighton City Council member, Pioneer Press

Education:

• Sauk Rapids school board approves cuts, St. Cloud Times

Elections:

• Who was candidate Harold Stassen?, Chicago Tribune. ‘He was a bright, attractive candidate who, probably around 1964, transisted to become a Quixotic figure.’

Environment:

• Lawmakers consider market-based program to tackle greenhouse gases,MPR
• Designing efficiency at Duluth conference, MPR

Health Care:

• Debate heats up over payments by device makers to doctors, Pioneer Press. Medtronic supports transparency goals of the legislation.
• Students and HPV: Popular vaccine against cancer-causing virus not yet required, St. Cloud Times
• Senate approves Indian Health Care Act, Bemidji Pioneer
• Hmong owned urgent care clinic, TC Daily Planet
• Minnesota nurses issue a ‘code red’ for health care, Workday MN

Labor:

• Security guards back on job after one-day walkout, Star Tribune

Legislature:

• Six GOP legislators stripped of leadership positions, Star Tribune
• Transportation bill was delicate deal, but Pawlenty predicts a ‘tax revolt,’ Pioneer Press
• $1B bonding bill OK’d by Minnesota Senate panel, Pioneer Press

Media:

• PiPress redesign: quick thoughts, MinnPost

Opinion-Commentary:

• Neil Peterson: Transportation bill got my vote because …, Star Tribune
• Judy Stuthman and Vivian Jenkins-Nelsen: How to select judges democratically but not politically, Star Tribune
• Patrick Henry: Pawlenty should use other pen, St. Cloud Times
• Garrison Keillor: Why they are, Chicago Tribune. ‘March in MN is dreary. Cabin fever sets in, stir-craziness, malaise, depression, whatever you want to call it. I’m a liberal but I don’t expect government to solve the March problem, nor am I sure I want it to be solved.’

Opinion-Editorial:

• Editorial: State needs to revisit charter school rules, Star Tribune
• Editorial: Flexibility still key in LRT route process, Star Tribune
• Editorial: Override hardball hurts state, Mankato Free Press
• Editorial: Political backlash troubling for state, St. Cloud Times
• Editorial: The problem with biofuels, Washington Post. ‘The biofuels craze could starve people.’

Pawlenty:

• Gov. Pawlenty predicts revolt over transportation bill tax increases, Pioneer Press
• Can Pawlenty override the override on gas tax? It’s doubtful, AP
• Vice Presidential contest heats up — at least here, Washington Post. ‘To balance McCain’s age, race, sex and lack of economic policy credentials, there were consistent mentions of…Pawlenty.’

Public Health/Safety:

• Attorneys for Red Lake shooting survivors sue security company, AP
• Stockton residents in FEMA trailers put on notice, AP
• Fatal bus crash spurs immigration debate, MPR
• New report recommends alcohol education begin earlier, MPR
• Ethanol carries a little-recognized risk: Fires require special foam, AP
• Monroe County advocates rally for same-sex marriage rights, Dolan Media Newswires. NY woman sought spousal health care benefits for woman she married in Ontario.

Technology:

• Steve Alexander: Citywide wireless is another option for home service, Star Tribune

Transportation:

• Higher gas tax not playing well in Anoka, MPR
• In the end, one fallen bridge was enough, MinnPost
  
• No free ride in quest for better roads, Star Tribune
  
• Border residents debate gas tax impact, MPR
• Pawlenty, Republican leaders circle the wagons after gas tax defeat, MPR
• Compromises move Central Corridor light rail toward a milestone, MPR
• Bridges could be fixed more quickly, Pioneer Press
• Gas tax outrage: where does the money go?, KARE 11