Minn. House urges Congress to normalize relations with Cuba (AP)
MN House members have approved a resolution urging Congress to normalize relations with Cuba. The debate featured pictures and recollections of Cuban trade missions and a greeting from former Minnesota Twins star Tony Oliva, who is from the Caribbean island.
Rep. Al Juhnke, DFL-Willmar, says the lifting of trade and travel restrictions could bring Cuban pineapples and coconuts to Minnesota and open a new market for soybeans, corn and even Spam. Cuba has been under a U.S. embargo since the 1960s.
Why is the state questioning REAL ID?
Starting in 2009, the federal government will require all states to have a ‘REAL ID’ card. The REAL ID would form a standardized identification card for all 50 states, in an effort to protect against terrorism and fraud.
But Minnesota can choose not to accept the program. However, if the state doesn’t implement the REAL ID program, Minnesotans would not be able to use a state drivers license to board a commercial airliner.
“REAL ID is real in the sense that it’s happening — it’s required by federal law,” explained Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
One of the main problems that the Governor and the legislature are grappling with is the expense of the REAL ID program. It could cost Minnesota $11 billion over five years and U.S. Congress has only approved $40 million to help states pay for it. “We don’t need the federal government telling us that we need to put in place a card that meets their requirements at our people’s expenses,” said state Sen. Mee Moua.
Moua supports a U.S. Senate bill that states Minnesota would refuse to take part unless the federal government pays 95 percent of the cost. The state has until 2009 to decide whether to implement REAL ID.
Delta, Northwest Airlines CEOs try to calm fears that Minnesota will be big loser in merger
They promise no airport jobs losses and that new, bigger Delta will live up to state commitmentsSteenland, the Northwest chief, said there would be “zero job loss” for Northwest at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport as a result of the deal. And for the handful of Delta flights at the Twin Cities airport, the ramp work already is outsourced, said Delta’s Anderson.
Northwest now employs about 11,500 in Minnesota, down more than 8,000 from 2000.
The Delta-Northwest merger still has many obstacles ahead, including an antitrust review by the U.S. Department of Justice, congressional hearings and integration of its pilots unions’ seniority lists.
The biggest issue facing the merging companies? Which brand of soft-drinks to serve – Northwest serves Pepsi, Delta serves Coke. My guess: there’s no way Delta will serve anything but Coke.
Stories via MPR’s Polinaut blog’s Daily Digest.
Related news: Wired has the scoop on Delta’s new passenger flight safety video and its starlet “Deltalina.”
Plus, Wired comments on a ridiculous, terrible, new, anti-hijacking product: electronic passenger bracelet that will allow the crew to zap would-be hijackers.
