Morning Report 2/1/2010

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BEST OF THE BLOGS

• Kelliher, Rybak and Thissen receive ReNew Minnesota support, Politics in Minnesota
• House unveils its job creation bill, Politics in Minnesota
• Rukavina gets some good press, Politics in Minnesota
• What the 2009 fundraising totals mean, Minnesota Democrats Exposed
• Forget Jesus. Michele Bachmann’s hot for Twitter, The Blotter - City Pages
• Sen. Jim Carlson and the gang running against him, mnpACT!
• Seifert calls for freeze on unfunded mandates, The Political Animal
• Not just schools feeling the pain, state to borrow $52 mill. from U of M, Hot Dish Politics
• Legislative jobs bill: somebody just say YES, mnpACT!
• Is Democrat control in MN 8th CD fading?, True North
• Playing the prediction game with the DFL pref ballot, MN Progressive Project
• CWA endorses Rukavina, The Political Animal
• Pawlenty’s FR ‘most impressive.’, The Fix - Washington Post. 4th item.
• John Marty: Ninety nine and a half percent, The Cucking Stool
• Chief medical marijuana backer: Bill’s future in the Legislature uncertain, Minnesota Independent
• Can you say predicament?, Residual Forces
• All along the watchtower, Hartbeat - KARE 11

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BUSINESS / ECONOMY

• State venture capital on the rebound in fourth quarter, Finance and Commerce
• Southdale mall continues to struggle — even under new ownership, Finance and Commerce
• City Center, Office Depot fighting over owed rent, Star Tribune
• FDIC shutters ninth Minnesota bank, MPR
• Once-robust charity sector hit with mergers, closings, Wall Street Journal

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CAMPAIGNS

• Communications union backs Rukavina for MN gov, AP
• Paulsen has cash advantage in MN 3rd District, AP
• Big spending year for MN politicians?, Star Tribune
• Bachmann starts year with $1 million for re-election bid, AP
• Bachmann leads in fundraising with almost $600,000, St. Cloud Times
• Joe Repya, the IP race for guv, and some weird background, MinnPost
• Spot of tea?, Polinaut - MPR

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CONGRESS - HOUSE

• McCollum seeks hearings on cybersecurity, MinnPost

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CONGRESS - SENATE

• Sen. Klobuchar leaves National Press Club laughing, Star Tribune

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EDUCATION

• Group of schools say early start could improve performance, MPR

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ELECTIONS

• Parties spar over meaning of Parry’s special election win, St. Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report
• County political parties prepare for caucuses, Winona Daily News

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ENVIRONMENT

• MPCA fines ethanol plant for wastewater violations, MPR
• Nuisance grows like a weed in metro, Star Tribune

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GOVERNMENT - LOCAL

• Budget will be focus of workshop, Red Wing Republican Eagle

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HEALTH CARE

• Both parties struggle toward GAMC fix, St. Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report
• St. Cloud Hospital expansion, renovation designed for safety, Finance and Commerce

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LABOR

• Twin Cities janitors give union authority to strike, Finance and Commerce
• Twin Cities janitors vote to authorize strike, Star Tribune

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LEGISLATURE

• Six legislators won’t run in 2010, with more likely to follow, St. Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report
• Budget crunch is hitting Minnesota Capitol this week, Pioneer Press
• Legislators push for Mall of America expansion, KSTP
• DFL Party’s plan for new jobs: tax breaks, Pioneer Press
• Dems try for Mall of America, investor tax credits, AP
• Lawmakers have full plate as session starts, KSTP
• State lawmakers face historic challenges in 2010 session, Rochester Post-Bulletin
• House DFL leaders propose tax relief plan, Star Tribune

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OPINION-COMMENTARY

• Gov. Tim Pawlenty: Ponzi scheme on the Potomac, Politico
• Sens. John Doll and Kathy Sheran: Prescription drugs must be part of reform, Star Tribune
• David Schultz: Government requires the following repairs, Star Tribune
• Lori Sturdevant: A simple yes or no on taxes won’t do, Star Tribune
• Marge Anderson: A metro-area casino would hurt the others, Star Tribune
• Lori Sturdevant: In search of leadership’s sweet spot, Star Tribune
• Thomas Devincke: Why should Rondo get railroaded again?, Star Tribune
• Nathan Daschle: he GOP’s governor problem, Politico

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OPINION-EDITORIAL

• Editorial: It’s game time for stadium debate, Star Tribune
• Editorial: Debate the right issues on cap and trade, Winona Daily News
• Editorial: A shrinking pot for transportation, Star Tribune

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OTHER STATES

• Ownership issue sets stage for carbon capture and storage in New Mexico, AP

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PAWLENTY

• Minneapolis to support limits to unallotment, Star Tribune
• Minneapolis joins lawsuit over unallotment, MPR
• Pawlenty PAC pulls in nearly $1.3 million in opening months, AP

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PUBLIC HEALTH / SAFETY

• Bremer Foundation focuses east metro giving on anti-poverty efforts, St. Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report
• Gaps emerging in US census outreach to immigrants, AP. Colleges in MN have campaigns to count.

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ST. PAUL / MINNEAPOLIS

• Minneapolis skyway traffic gets a boost, Star Tribune

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TECHNOLOGY

• Eagan firm is hoping the online generation and beyond click on their new product, WestlawNext, Pioneer Press

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TRANSPORTATION

• Taking stock of recent rail developments, Pioneer Press
• Officials await word on grant, Red Wing Republican Eagle

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Z-FILE: IRRESISTIBLE STORIES BEYOND THE PURVIEW OF PIM

• Ringo Starr wears Electric Fetus shirt to Grammys, WCCO