The Capitol Note: Democrats lead legislative fundraising contest

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1.) The state House DFL has more than $1 million in the bank and has raised nearly $600,000 this year, more than doubling its Republican rival organization, according to campaign finance reports disclosed on Tuesday. “I’m pleased with people’s continued support of the direction we’re moving in the state, and the numbers reflect that,” House Speaker Paul Thissen, DFL-Minneapolis, told the Star Tribune. “There’s a lot of folks out there that want us to continue to make progress.”

House Republicans raised nearly $220,000. In the governor’s race, which is also up for grabs this year, businessman Scott Honour out-raised Gov. Mark Dayton, capturing $200,000 in the first quarter of this year, though Honour boosted his haul with a $50,000 self-loan. Dayton raised just shy of that mark.

“Everybody’s constrained in the same way,” Dayton said. “During the legislative session, it puts a damper on everybody’s fundraising.”

2.) Gov. Mark Dayton said on Tuesday that tax breaks for a 2018 Super Bowl don’t need to be passed through the Legislature because they were never reversed after they were passed in 1992, according to Minnesota Public Radio.

“The major tax concession is forgoing of the sales tax on the sales of tickets. And that was passed for the 1992 Super Bowl, and that was not rescinded,” Dayton said. “That’s ongoing until someone changes it. So that’s about $9 million in tax incentives that are already there on the table if things remain as they are.”

In addition to Minnesota, which is building a new stadium in Minneapolis, both Indianapolis and New Orleans are in the running to host the game. The NFL is expected to announce where the event will be on May 20.

3.) U.S. House Democrats have $40 million in the bank — including more than $10 million raised in the month of March, according to the Pioneer Press. It appears that Democrats in Congress will outraise Republicans for at least the short term looking forward.

“The DCCC has sustained a blistering fundraising pace this election cycle because Americans are sick and tired of a Republican Congress that shut down our government and that is stacking the deck for the wealthiest while the middle class pays the price,” said Rep. Steve Israel of New York, who is running campaigns for the Democrats.

The GOP has a 34-seat lead on Democrats heading into the 2014 elections, which are expected to be tough for Democrats. House Republicans had $24.8 million saved up at the end of February.

COMINGS & GOINGS

David Bares has registered to run as a Republican candidate in House District 58A, the seat which will be left open by the imminent retirement of Rep. Mary Liz Holberg, R-Lakeville. Bares works as an executive-level recruiter at Hewlett-Packard, and has previously worked for Best Buy.

Lobbyist Annamarie Saarinen registered to advocate for Recombinetics Inc., a St. Paul-based livestock genetics company. She is the first lobbyist on record for that company, which becomes her second client on record.

The League of Women Voters Minnesota is hiring for a fall intern to help with planning and administrative duties. The position comes with a $500 stipend, and requires a minimum of 10 hours per week for five weeks. Send email, cover letter and a short writing sample to [email protected].

The Minnesota Family Council announced that conservative activist Dr. Ben Carson will be the keynote speaker at its May 6 dinner event, according to MinnPost. The fundraiser event will be held at the Doubletree hotel in Bloomington, and comes with a cost of $55 for tickets; more information here.