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With an insider’s eye, Hot Dish tracks the tastiest bits of Minnesota’s political scene and keep you up-to-date on those elected to serve you.

Contributors in Minnesota: Jennifer Brooks, Baird Helgeson, Patricia Lopez, Jim Ragsdale, Rachel E. Stassen-Berger and Glen Stubbe. Contributors in D.C.: Kevin Diaz and Corey Mitchell.

Posts about Minnesota U.S. senators

Poll gives Franken a big lead over all potential GOP opponents

Posted by: Kevin Diaz Updated: May 21, 2013 - 3:04 PM

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Minnesota U.S. Sen. Al Franken leads all potential GOP opponents by comfortable double-digit margins, according to a Public Policy Polling survey released Tuesday.
 
Among those tested by the Democratic polling firm was U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, who he leads 55-38, a 17 point margin.
 
Franken leads conservative talk show host Jason Lewis by the same 17 point margin (54-37), as well as state Sen. Julianne Ortman (52-35).
 
Narrowing the gap slightly against the first-term senator were businessman Mike McFadden and Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek, who came within 15 points apiece (both at 51-36). Sen. Julie Rosen trailed by 16 points (52-36).
 
Overall, Franken weighed in with a 51 percent approval rating, while 42 of voters disapprove. (His approval rating is 6 points better than President Obama’s in the state).
 
One of the reasons for Franken’s commanding lead in the early going is the low-profile of the potential GOP field. That is actually a sign of hope for the Republicans. “Because of the low profile of the potential GOP candidates they do have a good amount of room to grow against Franken,” the pollsters concluded, “although he's certainly a clear favorite at any rate.”
 
Other findings from Minnesota:
 
- Minnesota voters support requiring background checks for all gun purchases by a 74-21 margin.
 
- Amy Klobuchar continues to be one of the most popular U.S. senators in the country, with 61 percent of voters approving of her to only 28 percent who disapprove. She’s one of only eight senators with over a 60 percent approval rating.
 
- “It's looking more and more like the damage Tim Pawlenty did to himself with his failed 2012 Presidential bid is going to prove to be permanent in Minnesota. Only 39 percent of voters in the state have a favorable opinion of him compared to 50 percent with a negative one.”
 
- “Former U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman isn't very popular in the state either, with a 37-39 favorability rating and 24 percent of voters having no opinion about him.”
 
The survey of 712 Minnesota voters was conducted May 17-19.

Franken calls for 'non-partisan' IRS inquiry of political non-profits

Posted by: Kevin Diaz Updated: May 13, 2013 - 5:20 PM

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While Washington politicians are lining up to denounce the IRS targeting of Tea Party groups, U.S. Sen. Al Franken entertained a question from CNN’s Jake Tapper Monday about whether some political groups aren’t in fact masquerading as non-profits.
 
“This is the issue,” the Minnesota Democrat said, “it just should be done in a completely non-partisan way.”
 
Franken, a critic of the Supreme Court’s Citizen United decision that loosened restrictions on money in politics, weighed-in on the IRS controversy at the end of an interview about Wall Street reform.
 
In a rare national TV appearance, Franken said “These 501(c)(4)’s [non-profits], in order to be tax-exempt, in order for people to give them money and also not be disclosed who they are, the 501(c)(4) has to spend at least 50 percent, plus a dollar, on actual social welfare.
 
"So, some of these organizations have been, you know, it looks like they have been spending more on just pure politics. So it’s a legitimate inquiry by the IRS. What is in no way legitimate is that this be biased in any way. And the people responsible for this should be held accountable.”

Klobuchar visits White House to discuss rise of sex assaults in military

Posted by: Corey Mitchell Updated: May 10, 2013 - 8:01 AM

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U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and 15 other, mostly female, members of Congress met with senior Obama administration advisers Thursday at the White House to discuss the rise in sexual assaults within the country's military ranks.

Klobuchar et al. met with Valerie Jarrett, one of President Obama's senior advisers, and Tina Tchen, the first lady Michelle Obama's chief of staff, two days after the Pentagon reported a 35 percent rise in the number of military members victimized by sexual assault and related crimes from 2010 to 2012.

Klobuchar recently introduced legislation that would prohibit people previously convicted of sex-related crimes from serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, expand record-keeping to ensure storage of documents connected with sexual assaults and remove the requirement that the victim request that the records be kept.

Franken raised nearly $2 million in first quarter for re-election bid

Posted by: Corey Mitchell Updated: April 11, 2013 - 2:05 PM

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U.S. Sen. Al Franken announced today that he raised $1.985 million in the first quarter of 2013 for his re-election campaign.

The strong fundraising quarter brings Franken's total cash on hand to $2.03 million, as Republicans continue to sort out who will challenge the first-term senator from Minnesota.

U.S. Reps. John Kline and Erik Paulsen of Minnesota, Minnesota investment banker Mike McFadden and talk radio host Jason Lewis have been mentioned as potential challengers to Franken.

Kline, who represents the state's Second Congressional District, raised $257,742 during the first quarter and has $750,000 total banked, according to documents filed with the Federal Election Commission.

Paulsen, who represent the Thrid Congressional District, has yet to report his first quarter fundraising totals, but he finished the 2012 election cycle with about $694,000 in the bank.

Franken's fundraising totals do not include proceeds from a fundraiser that comedian and late night television Conan O'Brien hosted for him in California last weekend.

Klobuchar visiting Middle East during congressional recess

Posted by: Corey Mitchell Updated: April 4, 2013 - 8:58 AM

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U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar is in the midst of a four-day swing through Israel, Jordan and Turkey to meet with foreign leaders, assess U.S. aid programs and see the refugee crisis caused by Syria's civil war.

"The focus of the senator's visit is on national security and the conflict in Syria," said spokeswoman Brigit Helgen.

Klobuchar and several other senators were scheduled to meet with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Jordan's King Abdullah II and Turkish business leaders. They will also tour a refugee camp in Jordan housing about 400,000 Syrians.

Democrat Kristen Gillibrand of New York and Republicans Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and John Hoeven of North Dakota are among the other senators on the trip. The delegation is expected to return Saturday.

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