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The Daily Digest: Dayton’s budget plans coming

Good morning!

In Minnesota

DFL Gov. Mark Dayton wants to spend more than half of the state’s projected $1 billion budget surplus on state services for children, youth and families. (MPR News)

The Minnesota Legislature is likely to hold a session next year, even if the Senate has to meet in a heated tent. (Pioneer Press)

The Strib argues Minnesota's urban-rural split has grown wider and deeper. (Star Tribune)

The latest PoliGraph examines whether some claims a state Senator is making about Social Security are accurate. (MPR News)

National Politics

President Obama will ask Congress to increase environmental protections for millions of acres of pristine animal habitat in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. (New York Times)

The first big cattle call of GOP presidential candidates took place in Iowa over the weekend. (Politico)

Speaking of which, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has started a political action committee, the first concrete step toward launching a presidential bid. (USA Today)

The biggest challenge for one potential candidate, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, is how to manage his relationship with his father, libertarian icon Ron Paul. (Washington Post)

The Strib also looks at the coming debate over replacing No Child Left Behind (we had a story last week). (Star Tribune)