Hometown Source: Franken concerned over expansion of U.S.-New Zealand dairy trade
U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) urged Ambassador Ron Kirk, the U.S. Trade Representative, to pay careful attention to the concerns of dairy farmers in the upcoming meetings with the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Sen. Franken joined 29 of his colleagues, including Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), in a letter to Ambassador Kirk outlining the potentially devastating effect of phasing out trade restrictions with New Zealand.
The Hill: Heard on the Hill: Franken’s Sweet Overtures
If his colleagues choose Sen. Al Franken as “most popular” Senator, it will probably be because of his wife’s baked-goods charm offensive. Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee were spotted chowing down on a giant apple pie that the Minnesota Democrat’s wife, Franni, baked for their Thursday meeting.
The Minnesota Independent: Franken, Klobuchar sponsor Great Lakes cleanup bill
Sens. Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar are among several cosponsors of legislation aimed at cleaning up the Great Lakes. Introduced in the Senate last week, the Great Lakes Ecosystem Protection Act of 2010 would commit $500 million over the next 7 years on cleanup and restoration of the Great Lakes ecosystem.
CNN: Franken to keynote Netroots Nation convention
(CNN) – Sen. Al Franken, D-Minnesota, will headline the upcoming Netroots Nation convention, organizers announced Thursday. Netroots Nation is the most prominent gathering of liberal bloggers each year. The three day convention begins July 22 in Las Vegas and Franken will deliver the keynote address on July 25.
Star Tribune: Senate heeds call of jobless
WASHINGTON – Jobless Minnesotans would see their unemployment and health benefits extended and the state would get help closing its budget gap under a $150 billion bill passed by the Senate on Wednesday. The bill, which still faces a vote in the House, would send as much as $430 million to insure the poor in Minnesota at a time when the state faces a crushing deficit and a 7.3 percent unemployment rate.
