Capitol View®

The Daily Digest: 5-5-09

The Minnesota Department of Health has a new flu plan that focuses on prevention not containment.

Minnesota hospitals say they support increasing the tax on health care providers in order to offset potential budget cuts.

Lawmakers are chipping away at the smaller portions of the budget. AP, the Star Tribune and the Pi Press have stories.

One of the bills, the Transportation budget bill, keeps funding stable for roads and transit projects.

Another is the economic development bill, which takes a $21 million cut.

GOP Rep. Pat Garafolo says the Department of Public Safety should not be blocking online gambling.

Gov. Pawlenty heads to Washington D.C. to talk flood relief with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar, DFL Rep. Collin Peterson and members of the North Dakota delegation will attend too.

D.C.

President Obama vows to crack down on overseas tax havens.

Winona's Bishop blasts Notre Dame and Obama.

DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar clarifies where he stands on the mileage tax.

The Washington Independent reports that GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann attends the weekly Ron Paul luncheons on a regular basis.

The Hill says Bachmann is rated as one of the most partisan Republicans in Congress.

MinnPost's David Brauer wonders whether the local media overcovers GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann.

MPR says the stimulus means a few extra dollars a month.

2008 Race for U.S. Senate

The Star Tribune speculates on speculation that a Sen. Al Franken could mean a hard-left pick for the Supreme Court.

Politico pops that bubble by saying the pick could come at the end of the week.

Meanwhile, Politico reports that the GOP is fully backing Norm Coleman.

2010 Race for Governor

DFL Rep. Keith Ellison officially backs Matt Entenza for governor, just days after holding a fundraiser for him.

MinnPost looks at the gubernatorial campaigns of Tom Bakk, John Marty and Paul Thissen.

2010 Race for Congress

Liberal in the Land of the Conservative says Maureen Reed, who ran for Lt. Gov. alongside I-P candidate Peter Hutchinson in 2006, will reportedly run as a DFLer and challenge GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann in Minnesota's 6th District.