Stimulus

Like other Minnesota pols, Norm Coleman likes to invoke the memory of the late Hubert H. Humphrey, whose Senate seat the Republican held until last month (and which he is now trying to regain in court). The latest example came in a newspaper column opposing the Senate stimulus bill in which Coleman claimed to quote Humphrey, deftly identifying himself with the legendary leader of Minnesota’s DFL Party. But signs are scant that Humphrey spoke those words — unless Coleman meant the other Hubert Humphrey?

An $838 billion economic stimulus package passed the Senate today by a vote of 61 to 37. Minnesota’s only senator, DFLer Amy Klobuchar, voted for the bill.
Congressional leaders will have to negotiate the Senate bill with an $820 billion stimulus bill passed by the House, a process leaders say should be completed by week’s end.
Minnesota’s [...]

A small provision in the economic stimulus package — stipulating that the funds cannot be spent on higher-education buildings that feature religious worship — has sparked outcry from all corners of the religious right, who claim the bill would ban students from holding Bible study or even gathering to pray on campuses. Civil libertarians point out the proposed rule is simply the law of the land.

An array of odds and ends about Minnesota-centric action in the early days of the 111th Congress: How our delegates voted on the House stimulus package, prospects for a veto-proof majority for Democrats in the Senate, Rep. Keith Ellison’s “mandate,” and the two congressmen who signed on for pay freezes.

The U.S. House of Representatives is debating the massive economic stimulus package this afternoon. Here are what some of video clips what Minnesota’s congressional delegation have to say about the bill. We’ll add more as they become available.
Update: The House passed President Obama’s stimulus package with no Republican support.

With a floor vote on the massive economic stimulus package coming as early as Wednesday afternoon, Minnesota’s congressional representatives are looking to increase transit funding. DFL Rep. James Oberstar had words with the Obama administration over transit disagreements and DFL Rep. Keith Ellison is looking to add $3 billion in transit spending to the package.

The House Appropriations Committee released details Thursday about an $850 billion stimulus package crafted by congressional Democrats and President-elect Barack Obama. The package includes a hefty bit of infrastructure spending as well as relief for taxpayers earning under $200,000 a year. So, what might it mean for Minnesota?

As the budget battle at the Capitol gets going, Republicans are promising to obstruct efforts to both cut expenses and raise taxes. DFLers are looking at a pending stimulus plan from the White House in February in order to guide how the budget session takes place. And at least one DFLer thinks that Pawlenty might change his stance on taxes (or “revenue enhancements”) to help fill the historic $4.8 billion deficit.