Capitol View for November 30

Good morning. The last day before the last month.

A giant of U.S. diplomacy, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, has died at age 100. The AP’s Nancy Benac sums up the complex figure who is a staple of countless history books: “With his gruff yet commanding presence and behind-the-scenes manipulation of power, Kissinger exerted uncommon influence on global affairs under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, earning both vilification and the Nobel Peace Prize. Decades later, his name still provoked impassioned debate over foreign policy landmarks long past.”

We’re about two-and-a half months from the next legislative session, but there’s been more activity at the Capitol as the leadup march begins. MPR’s Kyra Miles says one proposal will be put into the mix today. She reports that two DFL legislators will propose expanding state child care and early education subsidies so that families would pay no more than 7 percent of their income for child care. The average Minnesota family spends about 21 percent of their income on child care currently, according to an advocacy group. Minnesota has some of the nation’s highest costs for child care.

Will there be the money to tackle items like this? We’ll find out on Dec. 6 (that’s next Wednesday) when the Department of Minnesota Management and Budget releases its economic forecast. Tax collections have outpaced expectations since the fiscal year began in July and since the last forecast was out in late February. This report will also look at spending patterns.

Tensions were high yesterday when the State Board of Investment held a meeting. The often-overlooked governmental body that includes Gov. Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison and other top officials met in a larger room than usual. Pro-Palestinian and Jewish groups gathered there to weigh in on the state’s foreign investments. The board manages public pension accounts and other investments. Those benefiting Israel make up $116.3 million dollars, or 0.14 percent of the state’s portfolio, according to the governor’s office. Some pushed for the board to unload those holdings while others called that idea a mistake. The board took no action.

The designer behind the state seal entry with a prominently featured loon also has a state flag entry in the running that he’d rather see win. MPR’s Dana Ferguson spoke with Twin Cities area graphic designer Ross Bruggink , who conceded the broadly admired state seal entry might be the only route for the loon to an emblem. His is the one with the preening loon who protrudes from the water next to strands of wild rice and nods to forestland. He told Dana that if only one of his entries makes the final cut, he wants it to be the flag. “I think it's going to be the brand identity for the state of Minnesota. And I get excited thinking about how this can be reproduced, how this can be drawn, and I think it will become that graphic symbol that represents our state,” he said.