Hindsight and 2020. Ally Mutnick and Kyle Trygstad at the National Journal interview incoming National Republican Congressional Committee chair and Rep. Tom Emmer on the GOP’s prospects for 2020: “Emmer’s analysis of the midterms pins the blame on the Republican Party at large for failing to win over independent voters with a cohesive message on the booming economy. He stressed that the party’s focus on immigration in the final days repelled moderates, but he disputed attempts to fault the president specifically and pushed back on assumptions that Trump would be a liability in 2020.”
Another breach. The Associated Press is reporting on hackers gaining access to Ramsey County social services client information: “The social services department handles services such as chemical and mental health treatment. County officials say about 500 clients might have been affected. They’re being notified this week. The county in August learned that 28 employees had their email accounts hacked by people who tried to redirect several of the workers’ paychecks. That plan was thwarted.”
Fiscal malpractice. Dana Thiede at KARE-11 has a piece on Target pharmacy employees in Massachusetts violating state regulations: “According to allegations in the complaint, Target pharmacies knowingly and routinely enrolled MassHealth patients in the Target’s auto-refill program and billed the program for prescriptions, in violation of the state’s regulation prohibiting the practice. This practice continued until Target sold its pharmacy business to CVS Health in or around December 2015.”
Corporate tax relief. Eric Roper at the Star Tribune reports on gamblers stepping up to pay for U.S. Bank Stadium: “Pulltabs and other charitable gambling have generated so much revenue to pay off U.S. Bank Stadium’s debt that corporate taxes are no longer needed for that purpose, state officials say. The state projected last week that the reserve account for the stadium will climb to $193 million by 2023, even without an annual infusion from corporate taxes.”
In other news…
Epidemic of greed: “Minn. Lawmakers Open Discussions On High Insulin Costs” [WCCO]
Reflecting change: “Plan to cover historic murals at St. Paul City Hall creating controversy” [KSTP]
Locally owned food delivery service gets eaten: “Waitr Holdings to Acquire Bite Squad for About $321.3 Million” [StreetInsider]
Orange you glad: “Sun Country unveils first of a fleet it plans to own” [Star Tribune]
Not just on the screen: “Fight breaks out at Roseville movie theater” [KSTP]
Nope Donald won’t be an impediment to your chances in 2020, I suggest you embrace him 110%. Put him in all your ads, quote him whatever you need to do. He’s a winner, sure you lost 40 seats in the House, but you gained two in the Senate, obviously that’s a big win and its all Donald.
In the memorable words of John McEnroe, “You cannot be serious!”