politics

Recorded political phone calls -- dinner-stoppers in many homes during election season -- can be curbed by Minnesota and other states, according to one draft of an opinion this week by the Federal Election Commission.

But in another draft, the agency declined to issue an opinion, saying disputes over restrictions on automated calls should be left to the courts.

The agency was reacting to a bid by the American Future Fund, a conservative group associated with Republican causes, to override portions of a 1987 Minnesota law that curb "robocalls." The group argued that the restrictions in Minnesota and other states infringe on federal laws overseeing campaign finance. The group is devoting much of its efforts to criticizing the health care proposals of President Obama and Democrats in Congress.

Minnesota requires campaigns to use live operators to introduce automated calls and get the consent of the person answering the phone to play them -- conditions that raise the cost and discourage the practice. Ten states have such restrictions and seven followed Minnesota's lead this fall in challenging the bid by American Future Fund.

The FEC's commissioners are expected to adopt a final advisory opinion in January. PAT DOYLE

Republican U.S. Rep. John Kline said he is hopeful that his party will regain control of the U.S. House in the next election.

Meeting with reporters Tuesday, Kline said growing unease with Democrats over the proposed health care overhaul, a soaring deficit and cap-and-trade legislation could result in big wins for Republicans in 2010.

A few political observers are starting to predict that Republicans could regain the majority in the House, Kline said.

"That's a dream that very few of us could have six months ago and it's a dream now that is starting to have legs," Kline said. "My colleagues and I are starting to talk about regaining the House in a serious way."

From Hawaii to Maine, concern about Democratic leadership will "bring districts in play that were not in play six months ago," he said.

Kline predicts Minnesota Republican Reps. Michele Bachmann and Erik Paulsen will win reelection.

In his own reelection effort, Kline said he's already raised more than $600,000 and expects to spend at least $1.5 million by the end of the campaign. "We are starting the steps to get ready for an election year," he said.

So far, Apple Valley Democrat Shelley Madore and Dan Powers, a Democratic building contractor, have announced they will run for the seat.

Kline didn't fully dash speculation he might be eyeing a 2012 U.S. Senate run.

"It's highly unlikely, but it's a long way off," he said.

BAIRD HELGESON

The story of the big-screen TVs that were removed from the Minnesota Sex Offender Program by Gov. Tim Pawlenty appears to have reached one final chapter.

Chapter one: The governor calls the decision to install the TVs "boneheaded" and ordered them removed from the sex offender program facility in Moose Lake.

The plot thickens: While 14 of the TVs were supposed to go to state veterans homes across Minnesota, state officials reported that eight of the TVs -- large 50-inch, plasma models, costing $1,576 apiece -- were damaged when they arrived at the veterans homes. State officials blamed the damage on FedEx, which shipped the TVs, and promised to file insurance claims.

The ending: A state Department of Veterans Affairs spokesperson said this week that the claims have been settled. "FedEx has processed and approved our claim and we're now working on purchasing replacement TVs. We're looking to finish that up by the end of this month," said Sarah Graves, a department spokesperson.

MIKE KASZUBA

In an interview for the Jan. 4 issue of Newsweek, Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who has been testing a presidential run, says that nationally, "Nobody knows who I am."

He repeats his line that: "There is a legitimate question about whether somebody who is basically unknown, isn't independently wealthy, isn't famous, would have a chance."

RACHEL E. STASSEN-BERGER