DFL: GOVERNORS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS

01/17/2007

ST. PAUL (1/17/07) – Today, Gov. Tim Pawlenty delivered his fifth State of the State address. Minnesota DFL Chair Brian Melendez released the following response:

“It’s becoming hard to view a speech by Governor Pawlenty as anything but an audition on the national stage. He gives a good speech and seems sincere in most of what he says. Like last week, for example: he seemed sincere when he spoke out against President Bush’s war escalation that will keep Minnesota National Guard soldiers in Iraq longer than expected. But just a few days later, Governor Pawlenty signed on to chair the presidential campaign of Senator John McCain, the escalation’s biggest congressional supporter.

“We do welcome Governor Pawlenty to the table on issues long championed by DFLers in the legislature. But today’s State of the State speech follows the same pattern as his earlier speeches: big, expensive proposals based on the idea of ‘reform’ but short on the details to successfully implement his words. In past years, the governor hasn’t shown the leadership needed to fill out those details. Minnesotans should watch closely to see if anything has changed.

“Progress and prosperity are what this state need. But we have no way of knowing when the governor means what he says and when he’s just trying out for a new job. Giving a good speech is one thing, now it’s time to do the heavy lifting and govern this state.”