TAKING SIDES

Biden Hosts Franken at White House

VP: It's time for Minn. to have a senator.

Big day for Al Franken: The Minnesota Senate victor—but not yet senator, pending Norm Coleman’s endless appeals—met with Vice President Biden at the White House Wednesday. Later, Biden said Franken needs to be instated so that Minnesota can have two senators. The Minnesota Supreme Court has scheduled Coleman’s appeal for the first week of June, with a decision expected a few weeks later. The Republican has not ruled out appealing to federal courts if the state court upholds Franken as the winner of November’s race, but it’s expected that Gov. Tim Pawlenty will sign Franken into office before then. “Once the Minnesota Supreme Court has issued its final ruling in this case, the president and I look forward to working with Mr. Franken on building an economy for the 21st century,” the vice president said. Franken is vital to creating a 60-seat filibuster-proof Democratic majority in the Senate.