Tim Pawlenty
Tim Pawlenty | |
|---|---|
| 39th Governor of Minnesota | |
| In office January 6, 2003 – present | |
| Lieutenant | Carol Molnau |
| Preceded by | Jesse Ventura |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 27, 1960 St. Paul, Minnesota |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Mary Pawlenty |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Timothy James Pawlenty (born November 27, 1960) is an American politician from the Republican Party. He is the 39th and current Governor of Minnesota, and started his term on January 6, 2003. His wife, Mary Pawlenty, is a district judge in Dakota County. Although Pawlenty was raised as a Roman Catholic, he converted to Evangelical Protestantism as an adult.
Political career
Early career
Pawlenty earned his undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Minnesota. In 1994, Pawlenty was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives, where in 1999, he became their Republican Party Majority Leader when Republicans gained control of the House in 1999. As Majority Leader, Pawlenty was instrumental in passing Governor Jesse Ventura's tax cuts.
2002 Senate campaign
Tim Pawlenty had originally planned to seek the Minnesota US Senate seat in 2002. However, this plan was derailed by a stern message from Vice President Dick Cheney, who asked him to step aside to allow Norm Coleman to challenge Paul Wellstone without primary opposition. Wellstone died in an airplane accident, and Coleman went on to defeat former Vice President Walter Mondale in the election.
2002 gubernatorial campaign
Following the termination of his Senate campaign (and a nudge from Dick Cheney), Pawlenty decided to run for governor, the job he claimed he always wanted. Pawlenty campaigned on a pledge not to raise taxes to balance the state's budget deficit, requiring visa expiration dates on driver's licenses, a 24 hour waiting period on abortions, implementing a conceal-carry gun law, and changing the state's education requirements.
As governor
Budget and economy
Throughout Pawlenty's gubernatorial campaign, the state budget was a major talking point. Pledging no new taxes and a balanced budget, Pawlenty gained the support of Minnesota voters. In his first year as governor, Pawlenty balanced a $4.3 billion dollar deficit without raising taxes though he did raise fees in lieu of taxes, which brought him under fire from education lobby groups including members of the state's MnSCU college and university board, as student shares of tuition increased by double-digit percentages in that year and the years following. A majority of the savings were attained by cutting government spending. In his third year as governor, while facing a government shutdown due to a deadlock over the budget (caused by a deadlock between the governor's office, Senate DFLers and House Republicans), Pawlenty offered a 75 cent "health impact fee" on cigarettes as one way to balance a $404 million dollar budget deficit. Following this proposal, some Republicans were outraged at the Governor, declaring that a fee was simply another name for a tax. Cigarette manufacturers took the state to court: Minnesota's Department of Revenue was ordered to refund the proceeds of the fee to cigarette wholesalers; an earlier billion-dollar settlement between tobacco companies and the state prevented the state from imposing additional health-related fees. If Pawlenty had increased the cigrarette tax it would have passed muster with the courts.
Pawlenty has also made a priority of finding alternative revenue resources for the state. Perhaps his biggest and most controversial plan was to enhance the Canterbury Park horse track into a "racino", which would be operated in cooperation with Native American tribes from the northern part of the state. This plan was faced with much criticism by both parties, who felt that increasing gambling activity in the state would infringe on the social values of the State of Minnesota. Facing strong opposition from Native American tribes, voters (the measure was unpopular, judging by statewide polls) and politicians, the plan ultimately failed.
On November 30, 2005, a $701 million projected surplus for the 2006-07 biennium was announced, the first budget surplus for the Minnesota state government since 2001. This figure, however, took a hit on December 21 when a District Court judge struck down the "health impact fee" under the 1996 settlement negotiated between the tobacco industry and then-Attorney General Skip Humphrey on behalf of the state. Additionally, it had already been under fire by state residents and media, both of whom noted that the state already owed its educational system over $700 million for budget deferments negotiated during the 2002-04 and 2004-06 biennia.
Education
During his term, Governor Pawlenty created the Minnesota Academic Standards, new graduation requirements, and reorganized, renamed, and refocused the Department of Education to a mission of educating children. Governor Pawlenty was the first Minnesota Governor ever to cut education funding. Critics viewed this as short-sighted and reducing Minnesota's future competitivess. Cuts included $50 million from higher education and $27 million from K-12. By appointing a Director for the Higher Education Services Office, Pawlenty ensured accountability in higher education, yet critics point to education bureaucratization and a movement towards more privatized schooling.
Transportation and agriculture
Governor Pawlenty provided the largest infusion of dollars into Minnesota's transportation infrastructure by restructuring and reforming the Minnesota Department of Transportation. He also created funds to put 50 more state troopers on Minnesota's roads. He has improved the preparedness of first responders by funding interoperable radios that enable law enforcement, EMS, and other emergency response personnel to communicate.
Governor Pawlenty has pondered the implementation of congestion charges or other tolls in the Twin Cities. Under his watch, the carpool lanes of Interstate 394 leading into downtown Minneapolis were converted into high-occupancy toll lanes.
Future expansion of the metro area's "Light Rail" system, and other high-occupancy public transportation is not budgeted for by the Pawlenty administration. Governor Pawlenty believes that tolls and higher vehicle registration fee will reduce traffic congestion, despite objections from local leaders and businesses.
Minnesota has mandated a 10% mixture of gasoline and ethanol (gasohol) since 1997, and Pawlenty pushed to increase the mandated level to 20%. In Washington D.C., Governor Pawlenty has been a leader in pushing congress to mandate higher ethanol use[1]. The bill was signed into law in May 2005, but will not take effect until 2013. While this was well-received by some, many expressed concern because most cars in the U.S. are only designed to handle up to a 15% mixture.
Foreign relations
During his term as Governor, Pawlenty has made trips to Bosnia (2003), Kosovo (2004), Poland, Iraq and the Czech Republic visiting Minnesota troops and increasing Minnesota's profile abroad. Most recently Governor Pawlenty took a delegation of nearly 200 Minnesotan business, government, academic and civic leaders on a voyage to China in mid-November, 2005. The objective of the weeklong trip was to provide a forum for companies to acquire market information, assess market potential, evaluate market entry strategies and identify potential business partners, as well as promote Chinese investment in Minnesota.
He also welcomed Mexican President Vicente Fox in 2004 in an effort to strengthen trade. The president announced that his country would open a consulate in Minnesota the next year, removing the need for Mexican residents in the state to travel to Chicago for identification papers and other materials.
2006 re-election
Governor Pawlenty faces re-election in 2006 where he will likely face candidates from multiple parties, most notably the DFL and perhaps the Green, Independence, and Libertarian. The most prominent DFL member to announce a candidacy is current Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch. However, Hatch has been previously defeated in the 1990 and 1994 DFL gubernatorial primaries. Other candidates include Kelly Doran, Steve Kelley, and Becky Lourey.
Presidential speculation
Governor Pawlenty has been considered a potential candidate for President of the United States by many conservative leaders, among them the influential Council on National Policy.[2] While Pawlenty has yet to denounce these rumors, he also hasn't made much of an indication of a possible presidential candidacy. The likelihood of a presidential bid declined after his support of the Health Impact Fee, a move denounced by influential Republican leaders, including Grover Norquist.
Electoral history
- 2002 Race for Governor
- Tim Pawlenty (R), 44%
- Roger Moe (DFL), 36%
- Tim Penny (IPM.), 16%
- Ken Pentel (Grn), 2%
See also
- List of famous Minnesotans (Hidden Hometown Heroes)
External links
