politics

There's a headline you don't see every day.

On his Fox News show on Wednesday, Bill O'Reilly briefly highlighted Democrat Rep. Tim Walz for returning his salary bump to the government -- made public last week when the U.S. House of Representatives posted office expenditures online. The comment arose during a discussion with a reporter concerning congressional spending. Here's the transcript via LexisNexis.

O'Reilly: What was the guy in Minnesota['s] name who actually kick[ed] the money back, Tim, what?

Reporter: Tim Walz.

O'Reilly: Tim Walz?

Reporter: Yes, and he forfeited his salary increase and so I think ...

O'Reilly: Well, good for him, you know. Because it is getting to be [to] the point now where they always have an excuse.

Contrast that with a news release from the Minnesota GOP earlier in the week, which inaccurately criticized Walz for cutting spending on "office supplies."

The tagline: "Walz's Bold Plan to Reduce the $12 Trillion National Debt: Cut Spending on Office Supplies by $2,196."

ERIC ROPER

The prairie landscape in the background of Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty's political action committee website is a sight to behold.

The lush prairie stretches as far as the eye can see, dotted with wildflowers that sparkle like diamonds against the green grass. Jagged rays of sunlight slice through wispy clouds to create a feel that is almost majestic -- even religious.

Wait, are those mountains in the distance? It might be heaven. It could be eastern Montana. But it doesn't look like Minnesota.

Minnesota's geography is known for many things: the moody waters of Lake Superior, leafy river valleys in the southeast, rugged forests in the Northland -- but not mountains.

Some area geologists said the landscape doesn't look like Minnesota, but they couldn't be sure. The peaks rise too dramatically, and the view of natural prairie stretches too long, they said.

It's a somewhat deceptive image, Minnesota nature photographer Craig Blacklock said. To his eye, the "mountains" could be wooded hills with a farmer's field in the foreground. He didn't rule out a Minnesota scene.

Harvey Thorleifson, director of the Minnesota Geological Survey, said the "mountains" could be dark clouds (perhaps not the imagery a potential candidate is looking for).

His best guess: Buffalo Ridge, in southwestern corner of Minnesota.

"But I don't know," he said.

Alex Conant, Pawlenty's political spokesman, said that he didn't immediately know where the photo was taken.

You can judge for yourself, at www.timpawlenty.com.

BAIRD HELGESON

There wasn't a lot of laughter around the Minnesota Capitol last week, as state officials announced a projected deficit of $1.2 billion for the next 19 months.

The state's top finance and budget officials stood grim-faced as they released the news: Income tax collections are expected to fall. Job losses continue. The average wage in Minnesota has made an "unprecedented" decline.

Then Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner Tom Hanson delivered a heart-stopper.

"While economists, including our Dr. [Tom] Stinson, will tell you the recovery is over ... err, I mean the recession is over."

Journalists and state officials howled.

"I said recovery. The recession is over," he said, releasing a smile. "The recession is over, but the recovery will be long, slow and bumpy, and it will be one of the slowest on record."

BAIRD HELGESON