After a flurry of activity in St. Paul the previous week, including money out the door for Minnesotans suffering skyrocketing health insurance premiums and a health scare for Gov. Mark Dayton, political attention shifted to Washington in the past week.
Minnesota and the country were transfixed by the new Trump administration, its immigration executive order and a seemingly endless series of leaks and palace intrigue.
Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., who before his time in Washington spent years in comedy and partisan bomb-throwing, seems well-suited to an odd political moment that at times resembles a mashup of "Veep," "House of Cards" and "Saturday Night Live." Every week seems to bring some new viral moment for Franken — last week it was sparring with Texas Sen. John Cornyn — and lots of coverage in the national media, most recently in the liberal magazine the New Republic.
Meanwhile, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., has long emphasized her bipartisan support, highlighting her successful efforts to garner GOP backing for popular policies like efforts to thwart human trafficking.
The Trump presidency could make that approach difficult.
Nolan vs. enviros
Rep. Rick Nolan is being talked about as a DFL candidate for governor — a "Draft Nolan" website popped up last week — but he will have to make peace with party environmentalists if he takes the big leap. Many are upset with his stance supporting copper mining near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
A group picketed Nolan's office last week. His stance also drew a sharp public rebuke from his fellow DFLer in Congress, Rep. Betty McCollum.
Mayo to the rescue
Gov. Mark Dayton was at the Mayo Clinic last week getting consultations on his prostate cancer, which the clinic reports has not spread to other organs. The famed Rochester medical institution says the cancer is curable and shouldn't interfere with his job duties.
Dayton is still considering his treatment options.
Back at the Capitol, the GOP-led Legislature is expected to get cranking again this week. The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hear a bill to bring Minnesota into compliance with the federal Real ID law, despite Chairman Warren Limmer's objections on libertarian grounds.
The full House is likely to take up another hot topic: legalizing Sunday alcohol sales.
J. Patrick Coolican • 651-925-5042 patrick.coolican@startribune.com Twitter: @jpcoolican
