Capitol Roundup

News and commentary on Minnesota government and politics,

T.W. Budig is the Capitol Correspondent for the ECM Publishers group of community newspapers.

Gubernatorial debate at State Fair lively, heated and aggressive

by T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol reporter

The chilly wind did not affect the talk at the gubernatorial candidates’ forum at the Minnesota State Fair today (Friday, Sept. 3), which was lively, heated, aggressive. SEE SLIDESHOW

Republican Rep. Tom Emmer, Democrat former U.S. senator Mark Dayton, and Independence Party candidate Ton Horner appeared before several hundred people at the Minnesota Public Radio forum — the lively crowd applauded, jeered, booed the candidates as they fielded questions from the moderator and public.

An increasingly familiar trio — former U.S. senator Mark Dayton, Rep. Tom Emmer, and Tom Horner — sat together again onstage for another gubernatorial forum, this one at the Minnesota State Fair on Friday, Sept. 3. (Photo by T.W. Budig, ECM Capitol Reporter)

Minnesota's success with military voting an example for others

by Secretary of State Mark Ritchie -- As other states struggle to implement new federal laws to help military voters, some are looking at what we have been able to do in Minnesota.

Through a combination of legislative reforms and technology, we made it easier for our military personnel to vote and gave them more time to participate.

Blaine man, Eagan man appointed to Faitith initiatives council

Saint Paul, MN – Gov. Tim Pawlenty today (Thursday, Sept. 2) announced the appointment of Jo Campe, Sandra Gilbert, Alan Goracke (Blaine), Ange Hwang, Christopher Leifeld, Jerad Morey, and Connie Roehich; and the reappointment of G. Paul Beaumaster, Windell Calvert, Richard Coleman (Eagan), Nancy Haapoja, Susan Hilgart, Wilhemlina Holder, Andrew Parker, and Jon Pratt to the Governor’s Council on Faith and Community Service Initiatives.

All 15 are appointed to terms that expire April 4, 2011.

Klobuchar, Franken announce more funds for immunization process

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken (D-Minn.) have announced that the Minnesota State Department of Health will receive $1.38 million to improve Minnesota’s immunization process.

The funding for this grant was provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through the Department of Health and Human Services.

New website allows voters task of balancing the state budget

by T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol reporter

Voters can experience the uneasy task of balancing the state budget on a new website from the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities.

MyMNBudget.com allows Minnesotans to pull the levers on spending and taxation with the goal of erasing the projected $5.8 billion state budget deficit.

St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman today (Wednesday, Sept. 1) appeared at the State Capitol at a Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities press conference unveiling a new website voters can use to experiment in setting a state budget. One budget issue of paramount importance, the coalition argues, is local government aid funding — something that impacts cites small, medium, large, and is bigger than party politics.

(Photo by T.W. Budig, ECM Capitol Reporter)

Met Council, U of M reach agreement on Central Corridor LRT project

St. Paul, MN -- Representatives of the Metropolitan Council and the University of Minnesota have reached agreement on a plan to protect university research facilities from vibration and electromagnetic interference (EMI) caused by the Central Corridor light rail transit project.

The agreement came after a lengthy series of mediation sessions conducted by retired U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan Lebedoff. The pact still must be approved by the full Met Council and by the University Board of Regents.

Sen. Klobuchar to visit northwest Minnesota on Thursday

Minneapolis, MN -- U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar will visit Crookston, Moorhead and several other northwest Minnesota communities on Thursday, Sept. 2.

In Crookston, Klobuchar will join U.S. Representative Collin Peterson for a public meeting to review the 2008 Farm Bill and look ahead to its reauthorization in 2012. Klobuchar serves on the Senate Agriculture Committee.

Some Democrats say Pawlenty order represents political theatrics

by T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol reporter

Gov.Tim Pawlenty’s executive order directing state agencies not to submit applications for recently enacted federal health care programs unless required by law has some Democrats charging that the potential Republican presidential candidate is staging political theatrics while others express concern over potential loss of federal health care dollars.

Pawlenty used the political red meat name for the federal health care legislation — Obamacare — in a statement.

Democrats expressed amazement over Gov. Tim Pawlenty's controversial executive order on pertaining to recently passed federal health care legislation, Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, saying Pawlenty's disregard for federal health care dollars is unique. (Photo by T.W. Budig, ECM Capitol Reporter)

Franken calls on Russia to reopen market to poultry imports

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) today (Tuesday, Aug. 31)joined a bipartisan group of 29 of his colleagues in urging the Russian government to immediately reopen their market to U.S. poultry imports.

In June, Sen. Franken requested that President Obama address the Russian ban on U.S. poultry products with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, and following the meeting between the two presidents an agreement was reached to reopen the market.

Federal legislation seeks to clarify prescription disposal

Hopkins, MN -- Representatives from law enforcement and health care will join U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar at 10 a.m. in Hopkins Wednesday, Sept. 1 to celebrate Senate passage of legislation she authored to provide consumers with a safe and responsible way to dispose of unused prescription medication.

The legislation is still pending in the House.

Pawlenty order directs agencies to decline Obamacare participation

NEWS RELEASE

Saint Paul -- Gov. Tim Pawlenty today (Tuesday, Aug. 31) signed Executive Order 10-12 directing state agencies to decline all discretionary participation in the federal health care legislation known as Obamacare.

“Obamacare is an intrusion by the federal government into personal health care matters and it’s an explosion of federal spending that does nothing to make health care more affordable,” Gov. Pawlenty said. “To the fullest extent possible, we need to keep Obamacare out of Minnesota. This executive order will stop Minnesota’s participation in projects that are laying the groundwork for a federally-controlled healthcare system.”

Minnesota voters in military urged to apply now for absentee ballots

St. Paul, MN -- Secretary of State Mark Ritchie reminded Minnesota voters serving in the military and those who will be overseas on Election Day to apply now for their absentee ballots.

Doing so ensures that they can begin receiving their ballots on Friday, Sept. 17, the date general election ballots become available. Minnesota law allows military personnel and voters overseas the option of receiving their ballots electronically but requires the voters to return their ballots by mail.