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Derek Wallbank

Derek Wallbank covered Minnesota's congressional delegation. After graduating from Michigan State University, he covered Michigan politics for the Gongwer News Service, a publication aimed at political insiders. Later he became a reporter for the Lansing State Journal, writing about education and politics and founding the Journal's respected politics blog. Most recently he was a researcher and reporter with Congressional Quarterly in Washington, D.C.

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D.C. Dispatches

Tim Pawlenty accidentally confirms the obvious, then walks it back

By Derek Wallbank | 04/12/11
WASHINGTON — Tim Pawlenty seems for all the world like he's running for president. He even said so today. His campaign of paid staffers, however, beg to disagree.
D.C. Dispatches

Bachmann plans trip to N.H. to meet with Tea Party leaders

By Derek Wallbank | 04/12/11
Rep. Michele Bachmann is scheduled to visit New Hampshire early next week to meet with Tea Party leaders there, according to multiple reports, though as of now she doesn't have any public events scheduled.
D.C. Dispatches

Romney, in New Hampshire, says he'll form exploratory committee

By Derek Wallbank | 04/11/11
The former Massachusetts governor becomes the second top-tier Republican, after Tim Pawlenty, to formalize his presidential intentions. Their two video introductions, however, couldn't have been more different.
D.C. Dispatches

Pawlenty lands wunderkind Ayers as campaign manager

By Derek Wallbank | 04/11/11
WASHINGTON — Nick Ayers, who transformed the Republican Governors Association into a financial juggernaut that eclipsed even its own party's national committee last cycle, will head Tim Pawlenty's presidential campaign.
D.C. Dispatches

Shutdown averted, barely, but next fights will be worse

By Derek Wallbank | 04/09/11
WASHINGTON — A deal to prevent a government shutdown was finalized with just minutes to spare, with everyone in Minnesota's delegation but Keith Ellison and Michele Bachmann voting yes. Attention now turns to even larger fights on the horizon.
D.C. Dispatches

Lawmakers strike last-minute deal to prevent government shutdown

By Derek Wallbank | 04/08/11
It was the deepest cut in federal spending agreed to (by unadjusted dollar amount) in U.S. history, and the first part of it sailed through the Senate with both Minnesota senators voting in favor.
D.C. Dispatches

Lawmakers aim to minimize impact of shutdown on flood fight

By Derek Wallbank | 04/08/11
Lawmakers moved to assure northwest Minnesotans in the Red River Valley that the federal government will still help fight floods, even as Congress stalled in budget negotiations and the clock ticking down toward a federal government shutdown.
D.C. Dispatches

Shutdown's military-pay provision has bipartisan support, but politics could get in way

By Derek Wallbank | 04/08/11
WASHINGTON — With strong Minnesota support, a bill to ensure the armed forces get paid on time, regardless of a federal government shut down, is picking up steam. Proponents, though, can’t guarantee it will pass in time.
D.C. Dispatches

No Child Left Behind too inflexible, Lakeville superintendent tells congressional panel

By Derek Wallbank | 04/07/11
WASHINGTON — A Minnesota superintendent today told a House committee that the next education authorization bill should provide more flexibility for local districts, while shifting the standard by which schools are judged from how much kids know to h
D.C. Dispatches

Obama says he'll veto one-week extension, now it's deal or no deal

By Derek Wallbank | 04/07/11
WASHINGTON — With less than 36 hours to go, Congress may actually be further away from preventing a government shutdown than it was last night. Here's where things stand right now.