John Lesch

Gov. Tim Pawlenty intends to fix the state’s nearly $3 billion budget hole unilaterally. Democrats accuse him of pandering to fiscal conservatives in order to further his national political ambitions. How the budgetary endgame plays out will have consequences for politicians on both sides of the aisle.

Ominous news about job losses and financial woes at Minnesota hospitals over the last week coincide with Gov. Pawlenty’s line-item veto of $381 million in General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC) grants and his vow to make more cuts by unallotment. But as bad as the doomsday scenarios are, they shouldn’t include St. Paul’s Regions Hospital closing — a prospect that a DFL press release warned of over the weekend.

Members of peace groups and labor unions expressed fear this morning over a proposed bill, sponsored by Rep. John Lesch (DFL-St. Paul), that would make it easier for law enforcement to secretly keep and and share information about citizens.

St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman says his focus is simply on winning a second term. But many observers — including one of his predecessors — say his recent staffing changes suggest he’s eying the governor’s mansion.

This weekend marks one February 29th-enhanced year until the 2008 elections, and the DFL, its candidates, and left-leaning groups are working hard to ignite the grassroots to match an already impressive fundraising lead over the Republicans.

In association with the Democratic National Committee, the DFL is organizing a series of “One Year Out” house parties. The [...]