PB Political notebook: Walz says yes to vets; no to 2008 U.S. Senate bid

In Political notebook: Name recognition not one of Pawlenty's strengths, the Post Bulletin's Matt Stolle includes two Walz-related items:

Veterans legislation

U.S. Rep. Tim Walz was in Rochester Saturday, announcing his intention to introduce legislation called the Veterans Pain Care Act of 2008 in the U.S. House of Representatives this week.

The bill would establish an integrated pain care initiative across the Department of Veterans Affairs health care facilities. Walz said his legislation addresses concerns raised by veterans in the First Congressional District regarding the need for expanding pain care services across the VA. . . .

. . .Walz for Senate?

As former comedian Al Franken's troubles have mounted as a result of revelations he owes $70,000 in unpaid taxes in 17 states, one name that surfaced as a potential Senate alternative is U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, the Star Tribune  reported last week. But a spokesman for the representative denied that Walz was considering such a run. "He will not be a candidate for the U.S. Senate," said Richard Carlbom, the campaign's political and finance director.

Hopefully, the rest of the state will accept this news gracefully.