Morning Report 3/12/2010

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AGRICULTURE

• 16 counties get disaster designation, Star Tribune
• Lifting Cuban trade restrictions could mean millions for Minnesota agriculture, lawmakers say, MinnPost

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BEST OF THE BLOGS

• Magnuson to step down as Minnesota chief justice, Politics in Minnesota
• Romney and Pawlenty to speak in Bloomington, Politics in Minnesota
• Palin to host Minneapolis fundraiser for Bachmann, Politics in Minnesota
• Poll: Governor’s race ‘free-for-all’, Hot Dish Politics
• Farmers may receive federal aid, Capitol Chatter

• Tardy Leahy blames Franni Franken’s pie, Hot Dish Politics
• Pogemiller streamlining bill meets opposition, Capitol Chatter
• Senate continues to lay out budget balancing plan, MN Budget Bites
• Don Betzold accuses Tim Pawlenty of diverting $30,000 in ‘Support Our Troops’ funds, The Blotter - City Pages
• Racino railed…for now!, Centrisity
• Emmer and Seifert: candidates for the taxpayer, True North
• Once again, Pawlenty gets everything he wanted, MN Publius
• Will Minnesotans elect another lawyer to the Governor’s mansion in 2010?, Smart Politics
• John Kline — Elmer Gantry type representation, mnpACT!
• Panel looks at Wisconsin tax deal, Capitol Chatter
• Melendez accuses Tom Emmer of being principled?, Let Freedom Ring

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BUSINESS / ECONOMY

• Calendar quirk will cost U of M $41M in payroll, MPR
• Documents show new details in Hecker case, AP
• Feds: Hecker fraud goes back as far as a decade, Star Tribune

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CAMPAIGNS

• Palin to host Bachmann fundraiser in Minneapolis, AP
• How tea party politics might play out in Minnesota, MPR
• Nelson-Pallmeyer backs Marty for governor, Polinaut - MPR
• Willmar legislator Juhnke announces his bid to seek an eighth term in the state House of Representatives, West Central Tribune

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CONGRESS - HOUSE

• GOP follows Kline on ‘no earmarks’, Star Tribune
• Patrick Kennedy discusses leaving Congress after 16 years, Washington Post. Jim Ramstad and David Wellstone offer opinions.

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CONGRESS - SENATE

• Franken to headline Netroots Nation, MinnPost

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CRIME / POLICE

• St. Paul’s Harrington top candidate to lead New Orleans Police, MPR
• Reappointment vote for Mpls. Police Chief Dolan today, MPR

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EDUCATION

• • U of M Regents consider new ethics policy, AP

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ENVIRONMENT

• Plans for new St. Croix bridge headed back to drawing board, MPR
• Task forces formed to study CapX2020 proposal, Winona Daily News

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GOVERNMENT - LOCAL

• Judge cancels special election on city projects vote, MPR

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HEALTH CARE

• As hearings begin on GAMC pact, providers and advocates for the poor analyze its implications, MinnPost

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JUDICIAL

• Minnesota Supreme Court’s chief justice to leave, AP
• Minnesota Supreme Court chief leaving the bench, Star Tribune
• Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Eric Magnuson stepping down, MinnPost

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LEGISLATURE

• House committee considers bonding ‘policy’ measures, Finance and Commerce
• Legislature sends construction bill to governor, AP
• Racino bill stalls in committee, Rochester Post-Bulletin
• Public works bill approved, Star Tribune
• House passes revamped bonding bill; Pawlenty ready to trim, MPR
• Gun bill fails at Capitol, News Cut - MPR
• Legislature passes bonding bill, Alexandria Echo Press
• Bills face first hurdle of session Friday, AP
• Legislature rethinks rules for grad tests, Star Tribune
• How far to redo forfeiture law?, Star Tribune
• Minnesota House panel tightens civil asset forfeiture rules, Pioneer Press

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OPINION-COMMENTARY

• Rep. Kim Norton: Small Business Caucus helps put state in recovery mode, Rochester Post-Bulletin
• Lori Sturdevant: A good chief leaves too soon, Star Tribune
• Peter Rachleff: Writing a new script for unions, Finance and Commerce

• Denise Johnson: School lockdown: A balance well struck, Star Tribune
• Jill Burcum: Despite Fox News report, Oberstar still undecided on health reform, Star Tribune

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OPINION-EDITORIAL

• Editorial: Ballot reform bill will declare ‘lesson learned’, Rochester Post-Bulletin
• Editorial: Recycling bill too onerous for what it does, Winona Daily News

• Editorial: Minnesota Vikings departure is counting down, Rochester Post-Bulletin
• Editorial: A cut with reform beats a cut alone, Star Tribune

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OTHER STATES

• Fight splits backers of ballot initiative to suspend state’s global warming law, Los Angeles Times

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PAWLENTY

• Pawlenty among governors objecting to greenhouse gas regulations, MPR
• Local projects await Pawlenty’s pen, St. Cloud Times
• Governor accused of siphoning staff from agencies, AP
• MN AFL-CIO calls on Governor to sign jobs and infrastructure bill, Workday MN
• Social conservatives put religious twist on ‘tea party’ message, Los Angeles Times. Pawlenty’s ‘God is in charge’ message.

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PUBLIC HEALTH / SAFETY

• Minneapolis schools lockdown lifted, Star Tribune
• Heavy rains, snowmelt pushing rivers to flood stage, Star Tribune
• Census: Reaching the hard to count, Star Tribune

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ST. PAUL / MINNEAPOLIS

• Minneapolis council hears Twins ballpark traffic fixes, Star Tribune
• Central Corridor work schedule is revealed, Pioneer Press
• Bike lanes cause confusion for First Ave parkers, KSTP

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TRANSPORTATION

• Bickering continues over Met Council-University light rail dispute, Finance and Commerce
• Central Corridor finds an ally in Washington, MPR