WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Jim Oberstar remains undecided about the health care bill because of a number of separate concerns — including a newly added measure that could hurt Minnesota's paper industry.

Related: Hoyer: 'Delaying tactics' could stall vote on health reform

Nearly $7 million in leftover funds raised by the Minneapolis/St. Paul 2008 Host Committee for last year's national gathering will soon be headed to three local foundations:  the St. Paul Foundation, the Minneapolis Foundation and the Minnesota Community Foundation.

It was, in effect, a showdown of "charts versus hearts" today. Gov. Tim Pawlenty called for reining in state spending with a constitutional amendment. Sen. Tom Bakk, one of many DFL candidates for governor, emphasized getting Minnesotans back to work.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Days before an expected vote on health care reform in the U.S. House, thousands of protesters descended on the Capitol Thursday to rally around Rep. Michele Bachmann and other GOP lawmakers who have denounced the legislation.

Related: Skip Humphrey, AARP volunteers endorse reform bill

Sixty-three percent of the 11,852 jobs created or saved in Minnesota by federal stimulus money are in education, mostly in K-12, which tallies a total of 7,380 jobs. Still, recipients of the federal money can't shake off a scary truth: Now they have it.  All too soon they won't.

Business Agenda: U of M piling up stimulus funds with $211M so far by Brad Allen

The hotly contested measure passed 17, 083 to 15,486 — about 52.4 percent support — but the margin is closer than it might seem, because the law requires approval of 51 percent of those voting to pass a charter amendment.

On a night when Instant Runoff Voting was the city's big new political development, it's appropriate that being mayor is only R.T. Rybak's second choice of jobs. It's expected that soon he'll go after his first-choice position, governor. Some other city races remain in doubt.

David Brauer: Strib, PiPress political endorsement scorecard

Former U.S. Attorney David Lillehaug says he agrees with those who say that Gov. Tim Pawlenty acted unconstitutionally when he unilaterally cut or shifted more than $2 billion in state programs and funding.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Despite predictions by House Democrats that they will pass their new health-care reform legislation as early as next week, Minnesota's House delegation is giving the massive bill mixed reviews and at least one of its Democrats is strongly considering voting against the proposal.

This afternoon, a handful of those who will start feeling the impact Monday of Gov. Tim Pawlenty's unallotment decisions filed suit in Ramsey County District Court seeking an injunction to halt the cutbacks in two state programs.