Kline's student loan bill gains, but interest spike still looms

With student loan rates set to double in five weeks, the U.S. House passed a bill Thursday by U.S. Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., to replace the current fixed rates with floating rates tied to government borrowing costs. But the largely party-line 221-198 vote does not avert the crisis for an estimated 7 million students who rely on federal student loans to meet the challenge of rising tuition costs and difficult employment prospects. Kline’s bill sets the stage for a high-stakes standoff with the Democratic-led Senate, facing a July 1 deadline.

Dayton sides with Lessard-Sams Council, vetoes metro parks funds

Minnesota to get stricter law on home foreclosures

Hot Dish blog: Poll: Dayton approval down but still favored for re-election

Hot Dish blog: Dayton signs $2.1 billion tax bill into law

New Minn. law allows more childhood abuse lawsuits

B. Todd Jones' confirmation hearing in U.S. Senate set for June 4

inside dish

Pain management, Dayton-style

Gov. Mark Dayton, who visited Mayo Clinic for back surgery last winter, gave an update on his condition when he returned to Rochester this week. “People ask me how I’m doing, I say, ‘Well, the Mayo took care of all the pain in my lower back. But now the Legislature’s in session, my pain’s moved about six inches down,’” Dayton told a laughing crowd of Mayo and Rochester residents, gathered to celebrate state funding for the upcoming Destination Medical Center project.  Now that the Legislature is out of session, Dayton said, “I’m pain-free today!” -- Jennifer Brooks

More money, new rules

Lawmakers approved a campaign finance bill that raised the limits on contributions and spending by Minnesota candidates. The state’s campaign finance board has started sorting out what that means for 2014 hopefuls. Read the agency’s guidance here.

ALEC says Minnesota among the worst

The American Legislative Exchange Council, no fan of Minnesota Democrats, is also not so hot on Minnesota’s business climate. The group says in its report "Rich States, Poor States" that “Minnesota ranks fifth from the bottom for state economic outlooks in 2013, behind Vermont, New York, Illinois and California…. The data ranks the 2013 economic outlook of states using 15 equally weighted policy variables, including various tax rates, regulatory burdens and labor policies.” Read the report here.

national

Obama balances threats against Americans' rights

Text of President Obama speech on terrorism

IRS replaces official who publicly revealed targeting of tea party groups

GOP's Walker touts state ties during trip to Iowa

Weiner gets started stumping in NYC mayoral race

coming up

Today

• Minnesota Supreme Court justices, Court of Appeals judges, and other members of the judicial branch will be serving lunch to the needy at the Dorothy Day Center in St. Paul at 11:30 a.m.

Have a political event, fundraiser, appearance to share? Email details to rachel.stassen-berger@startribune.com

seen elsewhere

MPR: Dayton's income tax draws complaints, praise from state's top earners

Pioneer Press: State Sen. Kiffmeyer's grandson taken into custody at her home during armed incident

Washington Post Fact Checker: Bachmann’s absurd claim of a vast IRS health database

CNN: State Dept. official caught up in Benghazi controversy in line for new post