Pawlenty’s Talk on Climate Change Doesn’t Match Whole Record
01/28/2008
Pawlenty’s Talk on Climate Change Doesn’t Match Whole RecordGovernor’s Leadership on Energy and Transportation in Minnesota Spotty at Best
St. Paul, MN (January 24, 2008) As Governor Tim Pawlenty co-stars in a national radio spot asking Congress to take action on global climate change, the Minnesota DFL Party said today that Pawlenty has failed to provide leadership on renewable energy or transportation solutions at home.
“Governor Pawlenty’s partnering with Democrats to spread the truth about climate change to a national audience is a welcome change — but Americans should be skeptical of his alleged conversion,” Minnesota DFL Chair Brian Melendez said. “Governor Pawlenty has a long record of talking a good game in public but delivering little on — and sometimes sabotaging — the proposals that he says he’s for.
“From renewable energy and climate change to bridges, roads and transit, Pawlenty has provided little to no leadership on the challenges that Minnesotans face — which hasn’t stopped him from grabbing the national spotlight, despite his weak record,” Melendez concluded.
Pawlenty Talks a Big Game, Fails to Provide Leadership on Transportation:
Pawlenty Advocates for Climate Change with Democrats. “Deepening his involvement in the global warming debate and in national affairs, Gov. Tim Pawlenty is lending his voice to a nationwide radio ad sponsored by the activist Environmental Defense Action Fund. In the ad, Pawlenty teams up with Arizona's Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano to scold Congress for not doing more to combat climate change.” [Star Tribune, 1/23/08]
But as House Majority Leader, Pawlenty Voted Against Renewable Energy. In 2001, Pawlenty voted against implementing a renewable energy standard as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. The amendment failed 63-69. [SF 722, Amendment 0X, 5/14/01, House Journal Pages 4553-5; Minnesota House Research, New Laws 2001, SF722]
As Governor, Pawlenty Blocked Progress on Renewable Energy Standard; Only Passed After DFLers Won Majority in Minnesota House. According to Republican Doug Kelley, “It's true that Pawlenty initially opposed a mandatory renewable-energy standard for all electric utilities, a proposal championed by DFL Sen. Ellen Anderson.” “Anderson, a longtime environmental advocate, said Pawlenty worked behind the scenes for years to water down renewable-energy standards and became a cheerleader only when he saw that the 2006 election gave House DFLers the upper hand on the issue.” [Star Tribune, 12/18/07; Star Tribune, 12/12/07]
While Pawlenty Touted Record Nationally, Administration Approved Coal-Burning Plant at Home. The Minnesota Commerce Department Friday unveiled a pact with utilities that could smooth the way to build a $1.6 billion, coal-fired power plant in South Dakota, on the border 175 miles west of Minneapolis … But foes of Big Stone II accused the Pawlenty administration of suddenly shifting course and supporting a plant that'll release 4.7 million tons of carbon dioxide into the environment every year for the next half-century.” [Star Tribune, 9/1/07]
Long-time Sponsor of Renewable Energy Standard Outraged. “‘I'm just spitting mad,’ said state Sen. Ellen Anderson, DFL-St. Paul. Hours before, she had introduced Gov. Tim Pawlenty to a group of children at the State Fair, hailing him as an environmental champion. ‘I'm outraged the governor has turned around and flip-flopped on this coal plant and is supporting it now.’” [Star Tribune, 9/1/07]
Senator Anderson Calls on Pawlenty to Back Words with Action. Senator Ellen Anderson wrote, “… Minnesotans must ask why he is in the national media leading the charge against global climate change and quietly back home doing his part to make the problem worse … Many of us admire the governor's words, but I would rather see action to stop climate change.” [Star Tribune, 9/17/07]
Just Before 35W Bridge Collapse, Transportation Called Glaring Omission in Minnesota’s Clean-Energy Record. “ … Minnesota's clean-energy record has one glaring omission, on transportation …Two comprehensive bills that would have stepped up investment in transportation infrastructure were felled by Pawlenty vetoes, in 2005 and 2007 … A governor who plans to tout Minnesota's energy record in travels around the country in the next 12 months is one who should make haste to repair that record's obvious breach.” [Star Tribune, 7/23/07]
Lack of Investment in Transportation Harming Minnesotans’ Quality of Life. According to a recent report, congestion costs the average Twin Cities rush-hour commuter $790 a year in wasted fuel and time, while unmet needs for roads and bridges total $2.4 billion a year. According to the Pawlenty-appointed Metropolitan Council, “Funding at current levels will result in significant increases in traffic congestion, delaying the movement of people and goods, and reducing the region’s economic competitiveness and harming our quality of life.” [“Moving Forward: The Benefit of Transportation Investment to Minnesota’s Economy,” Minnesota 2020, 1/2/08]
Pawlenty Has Long Record of All Talk, No Action. “From his no-new-taxes pledge to his potential Arctic trek to highlight global warming, Gov. Tim Pawlenty has long been a master of the grand political gesture … But behind the scenes there is grumbling from DFLers and even some in his own party that Pawlenty is more adroit at the splashy idea than the steady follow-through …DFLers say that both [renewable energy and transit] demonstrate Pawlenty's skill at ‘suddenly leading the parade,’ as Sen. Ellen Anderson, DFL-St. Paul, puts it.” [Star Tribune, 12/12/07]