Morning Report 2/9/2010

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BEST OF THE BLOGS

• House GOP takes the offensive on jobs during floor debate, Politics in Minnesota
• Cash-flow crisis roadshow visits House joint committee hearing, Politics in Minnesota
• Pawlenty 2012: First round of PAC fundraising leaned heavily on Minnesota donors, Politics in Minnesota
• Pawlenty’s Met Council appointees mostly breeze through Senate confirmation hearing, Politics in Minnesota
• Rukavina may be the key, all right, The Cucking Stool
• House launches new hotline to improve, streamline state government, Hot Dish Politics
• GOP’s Anderson brings ‘birther’ message, anti-Islam beliefs to state Senate race, Minnesota Independent
• Harold & Urdahl go to White Castle – MN2010 getting nasty, Residual Forces
• Tea Party rallies around voter ID bill, Political Party
• Unallotment deadline looming, Let Freedom Ring
• Pogemiller: Break it down, Capitol Chatter
• Tom Smith, possible St Paul Police Chief, MN Progressive Project
• I like what I’m seeing from the House Republicans…, True North
• Open letter to Kline’s 2nd District, mnpACT
• Redesign and reporters, Mary’s Page - TPT
• If you start me up I’ll never stop, Hartbeat - KARE 11

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CAMPAIGNS

• Minnesota GOP feels party gathering steam, Star Tribune

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CONGRESS - HOUSE

• Snow freezes legislative action, Politico. Oberstar’s John Schadl says people don’t understand not working back home.

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EDUCATION

• Legislative Auditor reviews MnSCU office expenses, AP

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ENVIRONMENT

• US to commit $78.5M to try to halt Asian carp, AP

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GOVERNMENT - LOCAL

• Grant sought for regional human rights office, St. Cloud Times

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LEGISLATURE

• Redesign sought to shore up Minnesota’s finances, Pioneer Press
• Amendments stall vote on eminent domain bill, Session Daily
• Former regulator at Capitol argues against repeal of nuclear ban, MPR
• DFLers hope tax breaks put jobless back to work, Session Daily
• Haiti donation tax break clears House panel, AP
• After Guard stint, Rep. Lesch reporting for legislative duty, MinnPost
• Lawmakers focus on road safety at state capitol, KSTP

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OPINION-COMMENTARY

• Bill Clements: The people speak; do the politicians listen?, Finance and Commerce
• Lori Sturdevant: Government redesign, Star Tribune
• Cory Merrifield: Why replace the Dome? Here’s why., Star Tribune

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OPINION-EDITORIAL

• Editorial: Toughen DWI laws and save lives, Star Tribune
• Editorial: Leaders should tighten their belts, St. Cloud Times
• Editorial: It’s time to be thinking consolidation, Winona Daily News

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PAWLENTY

• Pawlenty buys some Alabama goodwill, but who paid for it?, Polinaut - MPR
• Pawlenty, DFL leaders sparring over unallotment, Rochester Post-Bulletin
• Pawlenty speaks to North Carolina forum on creativity, AP
• Pawlenty seeks longer terms for sex offenders, AP

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PEOPLE

• Who donated the most in 2009?, Star Tribune
• Esten named CEO of U of M Alumni group, MSP Business Journal

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PUBLIC HEALTH / SAFETY

• Helping to feed the world, from St. Paul, Finance and Commerce
• MnDOT remains short of goal for hiring minority contractors, MPR
• Courts: Should child-porn victims get restitution?, Star Tribune
• Vital newborn testing faces challenges in using leftover blood spots for research, AP
• Prosecutors seek gag order in sweat lodge case, AP

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ST. PAUL / MINNEAPOLIS

• Minneapolis’ $50,000 fountains trimmed from six to four, Star Tribune
• Downtown Minneapolis library gets ballpark boost, KARE 11
• They root, root, root for the library, again open on Mondays, Star Tribune

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TECHNOLOGY

• Cloud computing a priority in survey, Finance and Commerce
• Libraries find use for texting as tool, St. Cloud Times

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TRANSPORTATION

• Will a Rochester freight rail project get stopped in its tracks?, Finance and Commerce
• MnDOT travel-time signs put to the test, KSTP
• High tech command center keeps flights moving at MSP, KSTP

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Z-FILE: IRRESISTIBLE STORIES BEYOND THE PURVIEW OF PIM

• D.A. launches inquiry into Carson mayor’s use of a mute button, Los Angeles Times