Pawlenty Turns Back on Minnesota

09/13/2007

Governor Attempts to Raise National Political Profile Again After Failing to Address Minnesota’s Urgent Needs


St. Paul, MN (September 13, 2007) After Governor Pawlenty traveled to Washington, D.C. yesterday to speak about c\\\lean energy at the National Press Club, the Minnesota DFL Party today accused the governor of turning his back on the state and playing politics with the suffering of Minnesotans during the historic crises of August.

In the days after the 35W bridge collapse, which Pawlenty called “a catastrophe of historic proportions for Minnesota,” the governor promised that he would call a special session to pass a comprehensive transportation bill — a measure that he has already vetoed twice — as well as property-tax relief and a bonding bill. He reneged, however, under intense pressure from special interests, refusing to call a session for anything but flood relief for southeastern Minnesota.

“Relief for the many Minnesotans ravaged by devastating flooding was an absolute necessity. But only a governor who has completely checked out of Minnesota could have played the kind of back-and-forth politics with Minnesotans’ suffering that Tim Pawlenty did,” said Minnesota DFL Chair Brian Melendez. “Running off to Washington is a desperate attempt by Pawlenty to change the subject away from his own failed leadership. But Minnesotans aren’t fooled; they see clearly now that his motivation has not been to lead Minnesota through our time of crisis, but to keep his own national prospects alive.”

“When the time came to lead, Tim Pawlenty caved once again to the loud minority who still claim that we can keep getting something for nothing, refusing to get his hands dirty with our state’s most urgent issues,” continued Melendez. “As long as Pawlenty puts his personal ambitions ahead of his duties to Minnesota, these problems will only get worse.”

Eyes Fixed on Washington, Pawlenty Can’t, or Won’t Lead Minnesota:

Pawlenty Labels Bridge Collapse One of “Historic Proportions.” After 35W bridge collapse on August 1, Pawlenty said, “this is a catastrophe of historic proportions for Minnesota.” [CNN.com, 8/1/07]

Pawlenty Puts Everything on the Table for Special Session. Pawlenty said on the August 3 broadcast of Almanac that, “Everything is on the table…I will be moving to consider and put on the table a gas tax increase.” [Minnesota Public Radio (AP), 8/3/07]

Pawlenty’s Office Acknowledges Breaking “No New Taxes” Pledge. Pawlenty spokesperson Brian McClung said, “Yes, it's accurate to describe this as a breaking of the [no-tax] pledge…But these are extraordinary circumstances. The governor feels we need to come together and work as aggressively as we can to address these issues. He thinks that's the right thing for our state.” [Star Tribune, 8/4/07]

Pawlenty Ready to Do “Everything and Anything Necessary.” Pawlenty said he was ready to do “everything and anything necessary” to raise more road-and-bridge money. “It's clear there has to be a coming together. We have to be united in addressing this obvious concern,” Pawlenty told reporters Monday. “I'm willing to set aside my previous objections in the face of this crisis and consider all options.” [West Central Tribune (AP), 8/7/07]

The Day After Special Interests Weigh In Behind Scenes, Pawlenty Changes Tune. Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist sent a letter to Minnesota elected officials saying there could be no exceptions to the no-new-tax pledge. The letter stated, “Tax-and-spend politicians often use ‘emergencies’ to justify tax increases.” The very next day, Pawlenty for the first time put conditions on his support of a gas-tax increase. [Star Tribune, 9/8/07]

Pawlenty Continues to Put Limits on Transportation Solutions. “On Wednesday, he said he was interested in raising the gas tax by 5 cents a gallon or less. A 5-cent increase would raise about $150 million a year. That's about enough to build one ‘medium-sized road or bridge,’ Pawlenty admitted…Pawlenty said Wednesday that, rather than raising transportation cash through gas taxes, he would like to see more borrowing for transportation and less spending on ‘social services, health care welfare and the like, which the government pays a boatload for and is going up like a rocket.’” [Pioneer Press, 8/30/07]

Pawlenty Declares Special Session Not Needed to Address Transportation Issues. “Pawlenty suggests it’s premature to suppose additional dollars are needed for the bridge reconstruction because its exact cost isn’t yet known…‘I share your disappointment that we are unable to agree on a comprehensive transportation bill at this time,’ wrote Pawlenty. ‘Hopefully, such a bill can be passed and signed into law during the 2008 regular session,’ he said.” [ECM Newspapers, 9/5/07]