Morning Report 10/20/2009

Agriculture:

• Weather continues to hamper MN harvest, AP

Best of the Blogs and Think Tank Thoughts:

• MMB: State workforce not (yet?) hit hard by flu pandemic, Politics in Minnesota
• Pawlenty to have DFLers for breakfast, Politics in Minnesota
• Kelley makes his gov run official, Politics in Minnesota
• Minnesota’s state debt ranks 42nd in U.S. per capita, Politics in Minnesota
• Walz has largest percentage of contributions from in-state donors; Ellison the Lowest, Smart Politics
• Pawlenty’s pursuit of conservatives in California and their money in DC, Hot Dish Politics
• Kent Kaiser: Fixing Minnesota election law and practice, True North
• Is Pawlenty making any headway with the GOP powers that be?, mnpACT!
• Here’s my response, Laura, Let Freedom Ring
• Hey snowbirds! Fill out your census form… In MN!, Dusty Trice
• Minnesota’s top cop and Rx pot, The Political Animal
• Palin-Bachmann 2012!, Minnesota Independent
• Frightened Franken?, Let Freedom Ring
• New York Times to cut 100 newsroom jobs, Romenesko

Business/Economy:

• Medical device makers argue against fee in health care legislation, Finance and Commerce

• Medical device makers court unlikely allies, Washington Post

• MN GOP, DFL oppose medical device tax, KSTP
• Pleas to spare med-tech firms from federal tax, Star Tribune
• State faces revenue shortfall, ‘fiscal trap’, Session Daily
• Treasury aids needy borrowers through state agencies, Bloomberg News
• UnitedHealth 3Q profit rises 13 pct, tops estimates, AP
• Calling America’s bluff on Internet gambling, Los Angeles Times
• Chamber struggles to stay ‘cool’, Politico
• U.S. Chamber: $34.7 million in lobbying, Politico

Campaigns:

• What a big difference years make for Rybak, Star Tribune
• Kelley kicks off a second run at the governor’s office, Pioneer Press
• Former senator Kelley kicks off campaign for governor, Star Tribune
• Former state Sen. Kelley launches bid for governor, MPR
• Kelley hints at primary run in MN governor race, AP
• Still no gubernatorial candidate for Independence Party, MPR
• Bonoff ‘open’ to another run for Congress, Polinaut - MPR

Congress-House:

• Rep. Paulsen says medical device tax a ‘wrongheaded approach’, MPR
• Kline helps launch online initiative to increase transparency, accountability, Jordan Independent

Congress-Senate:

• Franken talks health care, St. Cloud Times
• On road to 60 Votes for climate bill, Senate swells with fence sitters, ClimateWire. Franken probably a yes vote.

Crime/Police:

• Claims to recover cash from Gang Strike Force stack up, MPR

Education:

• $460,000 in grants fund programs at St. Cloud State, St. Cloud Times
• Panel to look at Lincoln’s legacy in Minnesota, AP
• U of M. creates Masters program in security tech, AP

Elections:

• Franken campaign still working to pay off recount debt, MinnPost
• Mpls. to teach voters to use ranked choice ballots, WCCO

Environment:

• Yard waste bags are going green, Star Tribune

Government-Local:

• Minneapolis vs. pensions: An accounting, Star Tribune

Health Care:

• Kardia Health launches online medical image system, Finance and Commerce
• Minnesota hospitals restrict visitors due to H1N1, Rochester Post-Bulletin
• Local health care providers set flu shot criteria, St. Cloud Times

Opinion-Commentary:

• Erik Paulsen: Medical-device tax could whack Minnesota companies, Pioneer Press

Other States:

• Maine’s gay marriage battle has echoes of Prop. 8, Los Angeles Times

Pawlenty:

• Pawlenty, top Democrats to discuss session, AP

Public Health/Safety:

• USDA confirms H1N1 in Minnesota pigs, AP
• Corps narrows options for ND, MN. flood control, AP
• MADD cuts staff in Minnesota, AP
• Fundraising site created for MN nonprofits, MSP Business Journal
• Do pricey TVs treat sex offenders?, Star Tribune
• With RPU warning of citywide blackouts, officials eye emergency repair, Rochester Post-Bulletin

St. Paul/Minneapolis:

• New two-way avenues create confusion in Mpls., KSTP
• St. Paul to background check tow truck drivers, KSTP
• Media outlets (mostly) reject Mall of America Field moniker, MinnPost

Stadiums:

• The first meeting of Stadium Task Force No. 1,347: Seriously … some ways to solve the Vikings dilemma, MinnPost

Technology:

• Minnesota High Tech Association to celebrate a decade of innovation, Finance and Commerce

Z-File: Irresistible Stories Beyond the Purview of PIM

• Is it time for the NFL to ban domes?, Wall Street Journal
• How a fight over a board game Monopolized an economist’s life, Wall Street Journal