Capitol View®

The Daily Digest: 12-18-07

The Citizens Board of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency will vote today on a major revision to the state's water quality rules. MPR has the story.

MPR says the state's decontamination trailers don't trail so well.

The Star Tribune continues its series on MnDOT - Money vs. Safety. Today they look at airport safety:

"In April 2004, MnDOT Commissioner Carol Molnau decided to open up the airport's safety zones, overruling the recommendations of the agency's own experts, who had warned that such a change would be dangerous."

Lawmakers lift the salary cap on the Minnesota Zoo.

Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek offers his reaction to the $30 thousand video his office produced to KARE-11.

Brian Lambert (nice new digs by the way) obtains an e-mail from Minneapolis Police Chief Tim Dolan. Dolan wasn't too impressed or happy with Stanek.

Cleveland Cliffs will drop its plan for an independent study of miners and will join a study by the health department. The Pi Press focuses on the U of M study.

Congress

The federal budget includes money for the 35W bridge and security for the RNC Convention.

There's no guarantee that the Central Corridor will receive federal funds.

Congress seeks to delay the passport rule. GOP Sen. Norm Coleman is mentioned.

Coleman is also backing a bill that would make it easier for Vietnam war allies to seek asylum.

U.S. Attorney Rachel Paulose writes an op-ed detailing the problems with child porn and her efforts to crack down on it. Paulose is leaving the office amid plenty of scrutiny.

2008

There's a GOP primary today in Senate District 25.

Politico says the U.S. Senate candidates battling for the DFL endorsement are operating in a more genteel fashion.

MnBlue interviews Steve Sarvi, the DFL candidate running in Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District.

The Pi Press heads down to Iowa to detail how active Minnesotans are in the state.

The MCCL backs Fred Thompson for president. This isn't really news since the National Right to Life Coalition backed him a month ago.

Finally

The White House plays the six degrees of Vin Weber.