The Morning Report 3/4/08 - Daily Minnesota Political Stories

Top Stories: Ford’s latest plan: St. Paul plant will close in September 2009, Properties along University Avenue in St. Paul expected to increase in value with light rail project, Kiffmeyer will run against Olson, Legislators see bonding bill as an economic pump, Republicans launch ads criticizing DFLers for raising taxes, Pawlenty hobnobs in Arizona, sets pundit tongues a-wagging.

Best of the Blogs and Think Tank Thoughts:

• Bonding atrocities, True North
• What ought we do with the Override Six?, Martin Andrade Blogs
• It’s not the size, it’s…., The Political Animal
• Don’t leave home without it!, SCSU Scholars
• Republican House Caucus: Moderates need not apply #10, MN Publius
• Wisconsin GOP legislators look to hamstring Great Lakes Compact, MN Monitor
• Capitol restoration, Mary’s Page - TPT
• Minneapolis considers layout for downtown bus lanes, MN Monitor
• How powerful is Minnesota in Congress? Not very., MN Monitor
  

Business/Economy:

• Ford’s latest plan: St. Paul plant will close in September 2009, Star Tribune
• Is there a fundamental shift in Minnesota’s economy?, Star Tribune - Pig’s Eye Podcast [audio]
• Minnesota lawmakers aim to avoid foreclosures for those on brink, AP
• South Dakota goes after Minnesota tourists, MPR
• Counties must decide how (and if) to divvy up new transit tax, Star Tribune
• Properties along University Avenue in St. Paul expected to increase in value with light rail project, Dolan Media Newswires
• $20M for Bemidji events center included in House bonding bill, Bemidji Pioneer
• Public works plans to be trimmed, West Central Tribune
• Minnesota House bonding bill has less for DECC, more for zoo, Duluth News Tribune
• Mid-America survey state-by-state glance, AP. Institute for Supply Management study; ‘For a third straight month, Minnesota’s overall index remained below 50;’ ‘The weak dollar, particularly against the Canadian dollar, has been an important factor for the MN economy.’
• Midwest survey shows drop in economic confidence, AP
• Cook County Board approves 1% sales tax hike, My Fox Chicago. Chicago now has highest tax in the country at 10.25%.

Campaigns:

• Kiffmeyer will run against Olson, St. Cloud Times

Crime/Police:

• ICE makes immigration sweep in southeast MN, AP
• Area drug house cases in the hands of the state high court, West Central Tribune
• City passes law enforcement mutual aid amendment, Jordan Independent
  

Education:

• Minneapolis minority students outperform suburban counterparts, MPR
• House bonding plan favors colleges, AP
  

Elections:

• Green Party to hold caucuses tonight, Star Tribune

Environment:

• Some are cool to DFLers’ greenhouse-gas reduction proposal, AP
• Panel advances Star Lake plan, Bemidji Pioneer

Health Care:

• Massachusetts may ban drug industry freebies for docs, Wall Street Journal. MN has capped drug industry gifts at $50.
• A bug rises, and with it a company, New York Times. Four states, IL, MN, NJ and PA, mandate that hospitals screen certain patients for MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Judicial:

• Winona County courts cut back on customer service due to budget, AP

Legislature:

• DFL proposes $1 billion in bonding to pay for an array of construction projects, Pioneer Press
• Legislators see bonding bill as an economic pump, MPR
• Rogue Republicans still feeling heat from overriding governor’s veto, Star Tribune
• Immigration: A hot issue at the capitol, KSTP
• Senate approves three foreclosure bills, AP
• Pew tests effectiveness of state bodies, AP. MN gets a B-; In the wake of the Mississippi River bridge collapse in Minnesota last summer, a harsh light was cast on the way the state had been treating its infrastructure; full report here. (PDF)

Media:

• Republicans launch ads criticizing DFLers for raising taxes, Pioneer Press

Opinion-Commentary:

• Bill Belanger: Property tax: Be careful what you wish for, MinnPost

Opinion-Editorial:

• Editorial: Pesticides are a public problem, Minnesota Daily
• Editorial: Stability should be tax goal, Mankato Free Press
• Editorial: Local traffic citations a good idea, Mankato Free Press
  

Pawlenty:

• Pawlenty hobnobs in Arizona, sets pundit tongues a-wagging, Star Tribune

Public Health/Safety:

• State sues maker of breath testers used in DWI arrests, Star Tribune
• Blue Earth County is hearing more calls for social host law, Star Tribune
• More red-light cameras coming to Chicago, Chicago Tribune
• City moves forward on water treatment plant, Jordan Independent
  

Republican National Convention:

• Stream of GOP convention planners soon to be a flood, MinnPost
• Anti-war group says city is stalling, Pioneer Press

St. Paul/Minneapolis:

• Washington Avenue Bridge likely to bear the load of light rail, TC Daily Planet
• Timothy Geisler appointed to MAC, KSTP
  

Transportation:

• Metro Transit enhances online trip planner , KSTP