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 did an in-depth review of the Republican Party of Minnesota's finances and found former Chair Tony Sutton's spending on GOP insiders is one of the reasons the party is $2 million in debt.  Some of the spending includes:

-More than $1 million in payments to Trimble and Associates since 2008.  Tony Trimble, who oversaw the 2008 U.S. Senate recount and the 2010 gubernatorial recount, said he only did the work party leaders requested and defended the "discounted rate" he billed the MNGOP.  But Republican National Committeewoman Pat Anderson says she's shocked by the size of the legal bills and said Trimble will no longer work for the party.

-A $14,000 bonus to the party's executive director, Ryan Griffin, in July, 2010.

-$10,000 went to a researcher to study the efficacy of medical marijuana in September of 2010 (The heat of the 2010 race).

-$221,000 went to a Minneapolis-based public relations firm to rebrand the party.  One of the people who worked on the contract was briefly hired to be the party's communications director when Sutton was first elected chair.

-$5,000 was directed to a private investigator to study whether any election fraud occurred in 2010.

-$70,000 to GOP state Sen. David Thompson to do media consulting for the party.

Sutton told MPR News he should have curtailed spending when the fundraising was keeping pace.  He said a big problem was the elimination of the Political Contribution Refund in 2009.  A look at state campaign finance reports show that small donor giving dropped off dramatically since then.

: The 14-member executive committee met late last night to discuss the party's finances.  It was the first meeting since political consultant Pat Shortridge took over as party chair.  Party leaders say they agreed to do an internal review of some of the party's expenses as they try to dissect what happened over the past two and a half years.

Republican National Committeewoman Pat Anderson 

 that Bron Scherer has been appointed secretary-treasurer of the party.

House and Senate Republicans released their 

 to change how state government is run.  The so-called Reform 2.0 includes several GOP policies that have been pushed in the past but also includes a few new ideas like a plan would allow for the conversion of failing public schools to charter schools and allow the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul to take control of struggling schools in their cities.  Here's a 

 says Republicans were skittish on the stadium and Amy Koch's affair.

GOP Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem says he 

Gov. Dayton appeared on Midday on Thursday.  It was host Gary Eichten's last call-in broadcast.  Dayton announced on the show that today will be proclaimed "Gary Eichten Day in Minnesota."  Listen to the program 

Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson is 

 Chicago-based Accretive Health, alleging that it failed to protect patient health care records and failed to disclose to patients how their records are used.

 DFLer Susan Allen on Thursday.  Senator-elect Kari Dziedzic's swearing-in ceremony will be held today.

 came in the professional and business services sector.

 says Ramsey County needs a Hail Mary to get the stadium built there.

Google says 7 million people have signed a petition 

 what Minnesotans have known for quite some time: GOP Rep. Chip Cravaack (MN-8) will be a targeted candidate in 2012.

 ended a bizarre campaign day in South Carolina.

 that Gingrich wanted an "open marriage."

It looks like Rick Santorum, not Mitt Romney, 

 (to Romney's good cop) by saying Gingrich's infidelities concern him.

MPR's Gary Eichten is retiring today after 45 years of services at the radio station.  I'm honored to have worked with him covering political issues across Minnesota.  I'll miss his laugh in the newsroom, his modesty and the standards he sets for us.  I'm happy to call him my friend.

The Daily Digest (A detailed look at GOP finances, GOP pushes changes in government, South Carolina primary looms)

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