The Daily Digest: 12-11-06
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
It appears there could be a legislative showdown regarding GOP Representative Mark Olson's future in the Legislature. The forces are lining up to call for his resignation if he pleads guilty or his found guilty of two counts of alleged misdemeanor assault. Olson told the St. Cloud Times that he's headed back to work and is undeterred by the decision to suspend him from the House GOP caucus:
"Maybe it means I'm an independent now," he said. "I don't know. I've always been sort of independent."
Will there be a statewide smoking ban? The Star Tribune examines that question in this story.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
Lawmakers were busy predicting how the upcoming legislative session will fare. The Brainerd Post Dispatch and The New Ulm Journal have stories.
Bemidji community leaders meet to discuss the region's upcoming legislative agenda.
The Star Tribune says there is a new focus on life after prison.
The West Central Tribune says DFL Rep. Al Juhnke was one of four selected to be speaker pro tem.
Congress
Congress wrapped up session but not without confirming Minnesota's new U.S. Attorney. The Senate also fixed a tax glitch for the coal gasification plant on the Iron Range.
The Star Tribune says ethics reform will top the Democratic agenda.
Collin Peterson will push for new ethanol sources and says he's not interested in lifting the ethanol tariff.
The Des Moines Register also says more money for biofuels is on the table.
USA Today says Kofi Annan will blast U.S. (Norm Coleman mentioned).
The Washington Post has a story on Ellison's decision to swear on the Qur'an and not the bible. Guess what? Others didn't swear on the bible either.
The Minnesota Daily has a q and a with Ellison
The Downtown Journal takes a look at Tim Walz' victory.
The AP says Kennedy will continue to be active in politics (help Coleman win and will work on '08 GOP convention).
Former St. Paul mayor Randy Kelly gets a job with the EPA.
2008
The National Journal polls Republican and Democratic insiders on their choices for presidential and vice presidential candidates
Here's their definition of insider:
National Journal's latest survey of Democratic and Republican Insiders -- members of Congress, party activists, fundraisers, consultants, lobbyists, and interest-group leaders for whom presidential politics is an "all-engrossing topic.
McCain (GOP) and Clinton (D) lead the list with Romney (GOP) and Obama (D) in second.
Here's an interesting tidbit for all you "Tim Pawlenty as VP watchers:"
Strongest Republican vice presidential candidate
Mitt Romney 20%
Condoleezza Rice 18%
Rudy Giuliani 12%
Haley Barbour 8%
Jeb Bush 5%
Chuck Hagel 5%
Tim Pawlenty 5%
Roll Call takes a look at Al Franken and his possible run for the U.S. Senate (subscription required).
The Chicago Tribune says there's a Midwestern drought for presidential hopefuls:
The last born, raised and elected president from the Midwest was Missouri's Harry Truman, and that was almost 60 years ago. A Cubs-like drought has settled on the region since then, dooming the aspirations of stalwart public servants such as Paul Simon (Illinois), John Glenn (Ohio), Walter Mondale (Minnesota), Tom Harkin (Iowa), Richard Lugar (Indiana), Richard Gephardt (Missouri) and Bob Dole (Kansas). True, Gerald Ford (Michigan) became president, but that was accidental and he could not get elected on his own.
The Washington Post says there's no difference between an exploratory committee and a presidential committee except for the hope of two shots on the radio and tv, in the newspaper and buzz on the internet.
Finally, Smart Politics wonders if Minnesota or Wisconsin will select a GOP Presidential candidate first.
