New Web Video With Governor Pawlenty

Governor Pawlenty's St. Paul Press Conference

MPR has the audio.

Governor Pawlenty On the Latest Round of Bills...

"I can't just say that bills that I haven't even seen yet, that spend $34 billion, that are 500 pages long or more, that I'm going to blindly just say, oh sure, I'll sign them.

That ain't the way it works."

CHANHASSEN VILLAGER: Pawlenty encourages scholars to serve

Governor Tim Pawlenty spoke at the Chanhassen Rotary annual scholarship breakfast Wednesday morning about the importance of serving others.

“This country doesn’t work unless we have people with a heart of service,” he said. “Life is a relay race. Are the folks who are going to grab the baton ready?”

Click here to read the full article.

STEVE SVIGGUM: There's no need to raise taxes

Steve Sviggum, published in the Star Tribune

While Democrats want to portray the need for increased taxes in Minnesota as the all-or-nothing approach to provide property tax relief and adequate education funding this session, it does not need to be the case.

Minnesota has an additional $3 billion to spend on government programs this session (including the $2.2 billion surplus). That's a 9.8 percent increase in overall state spending. With those kinds of resources available, there ought to be enough to fund all of Minnesota's needs -- including education and property tax relief -- without increasing the tax burdens that will kill jobs and economic growth in our state.

Click here to read the full op-ed.

STAR TRIBUNE: Pawlenty vetoes gas tax, income tax bills

By Patricia Lopez, Star Tribune

Gov. Tim Pawlenty struck swiftly and with strong language Tuesday to veto a gasoline tax increase and an income-tax-for-property-tax swap that were at the heart of the DFL's agenda for the session.

DFLers accused him of protecting the state's richest 1 percent -- those who would have borne most of the income tax increase, which would pay for the proposed property tax relief -- at the expense of everyone else. But they conceded that some of their top objectives are fast sliding out of reach.

Click here to read the full article.

Fish Count as of Lunch Break:

Governor Tim Pawlenty: 2 Northerns, 2 Walleye, 1 Perch

First Lady Mary Pawlenty: 3 Walleye, 2 Perch

Lt. Governor Carol Molnau: 3 Walleye, 9 Perch

Fishing Opener Update

Early reports are that the Governor is hauling in the fish this morning.

More details to follow...

THE PILOT-INDEPENDENT: Celebrations, dedications kick off Governor's Fishing Opener weekend

by Gail DeBoer

After a year of anticipation and preparation, the Walker community is rolling out a big "Walker-style" welcome for the 2007 Governor's Fishing Opener on Leech Lake this weekend.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty, First Lady Mary Pawlenty, Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau and other dignitaries will be participating in several events Friday that are open to the public.

The Fishing Opener kicks off Friday morning with Pawlenty's weekly radio show. The public is invited to Jimmy's Family Restaurant to watch the live broadcast from 9 to 10 a.m., produced by WCCO AM. It is distributed by satellite by the Minnesota News Network and will be carried locally by KQKK 101.9 FM and KAKK 1570 AM.

Click here to read the full article.

DETROIT LAKES TRIBUNE: Pawlenty veto pen dashes DFL dreams

Don Davis, DL-Online

Gov. Tim Pawlenty did as he promised — vetoed two more of the state’s major funding bills and pared down another.

And the Republican governor said he is ready to wield his veto pen some more.

However, he also signed a couple of bills. One funds public safety programs to the tune of $2 million. The other makes ticket scalping legal.

Click here to read the full article.

All across Minnesota...people are buying lures.

Governor Pawlenty got his today.

Polinaut has details and a photo.

And then there's this stellar quote:

"I'm going to practice catch and release just like I do with the DFL tax increases and budget through the roof bills. We do a little legislative catch and release when they send me these big tax hikes and spending bills. We're going to do the same on the lake this Saturday."

STAR TRIBUNE: Pawlenty endorses report on changing management of natural resources

By Dennis Anderson

Gov. Tim Pawlenty on Tuesday enthusiastically endorsed a commission report calling for overhauling the way the state's natural resources are managed and the way that management is funded.

The 57-page study by the Governor's Conservation Legacy Council, formed by Pawlenty last fall, calls for a three-pronged revamping: passage by the Legislature this session of sales-tax-based dedicated funding for conservation; establishment of a citizen Conservation Commission, whose duties would in part include oversight of the Department of Natural Resources; and development of a Conservation Compact, or statewide natural resources management plan.

Click here to read the full article.

VIDEO: Governor Pawlenty on KSTP's "At Issue"

Click on the image to watch this week's episode of "At Issue."

There is SOME fun being had at the Capitol...

The Pioneer Press has the story.

Click here to read the article about some fourth-graders from Stillwater visiting the Governor's office.

TOM SCHECK: The governor seems to be in a groove

In today's Daily Digest, MPR's Tom Scheck says Governor Pawlenty is in a groove.

Click here to read today's Daily Digest.

PIONEER PRESS: Pawlenty vetoes 2 major bills

BY BILL SALISBURY

Gov. Tim Pawlenty's red veto stamp got a workout Monday as he rejected budget bills to fund state agency operations and jobs programs.

Pawlenty signed a $2 billion anti-crime package and said he would be signing an $865 million appropriation for environmental and energy programs.

That means he will have signed three and vetoed three of the 11 tax and spending bills that will define the state's two-year budget. He's vetoing objectionable bills quickly, he said, to give the Legislature time to fix and send them back to him before the May 21 constitutional deadline for adjourning.

The Republican governor accused leaders of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor legislative majorities of adopting a new "ping-pong approach" to budget-making. Instead of negotiating spending targets with him, as previous legislatures and governors have done, he said, this year DFL lawmakers are sending him the budget bills they like, and he sends back the ones he dislikes.

Click here to read the full article.

Countdown to the Fishing Opener: 5 Days!

The Star Tribune has fishing tips from Chip Leer. Mr. Leer will serve as fishing guide for Governor Pawlenty and First Lady Mary Pawlenty this weekend.

Click here to see the article with Chip's tips.

POLINAUT: Agriculture and Veterans Bill Signing

Tom Scheck at MPR's Polinaut blog has more on today's bill signing, as well as a photo.

Click here to go to Polinaut.

HOMETOWNSOURCE.COM: Gov. Pawlenty signs Agriculture and Veterans Omnibus Bill

--NEWS RELEASE--

Saint Paul – Gov. Tim Pawlenty on Friday (May 4) signed the $170 million Agriculture and Veterans Omnibus Bill that strengthens the Clean Water Legacy Act, builds on the Governor’s Next Generation Energy initiative, and continues Minnesota’s commitment to members of the military and veterans.

“This bill includes key initiatives we proposed to help veterans, active military members and their families,” Gov. Pawlenty said. “It also focuses on renewable energy development and important programs to keep Minnesota agriculture growing.”

The legislation creates the Next Generation Energy Board, expands the Agricultural Best Management Practices Loan Program to improve water quality, and includes outreach and reintegration programs for Minnesota veterans.

Click here to read the rest of the release.

BRAINERD DISPATCH: Pawlenty lauds lakes area chamber education effort

By MIKE O'ROURKE, Associate Editor

EAST GULL LAKE - Gov. Tim Pawlenty on Thursday described the Brainerd Lakes Chamber's education initiative as "nation-leading" and expressed disappointment the Legislature has only "symbolically funded it" at this point.

"It's very visionary," he told the crowd of more than 300 at the chamber's spring celebration at The Legacy at Cragun's.

Click here to read the full article (registration free, but required).

NEW ULM JOURNAL EDITORIAL: Bloated bonding bill needed vetoing

Gov. Tim Pawlenty issued the first of what is expected to be a long list of vetoes on budget and spending bills sent to him by the Legislature. The state construction funding bill was a bloated mess that deserved vetoing.

The bill, which topped out at $334 million, was not only four times the size of the governor’s proposed bonding bill, it was a bill that actually grew in conference committee. Usually when conferees get together they are looking for middle ground. But the panel reconciling the House’s $255 million bill and the Senate’s $285 million bill decided to go above and beyond.

Look for the governor to do the same to other overpriced budget and spending bills. The DFLers in the Legislature lack the votes to override the veto, so they are going to have to go back to work and come up with something more to the governor’s liking. They have about three weeks to do so before the end of the session. They’d best get to work.

ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE: Pawlenty to come for vets memorial

By Sarah Light, staff writer

Gov. Tim Pawlenty will make his second visit to Albert Lea in two months during the Freeborn County Veterans Memorial dedication on Memorial Day, his office announced Tuesday.

The dedication will take place at the site of the memorial on the lawn of the Freeborn County Government Center at 2:30 p.m., after a Memorial Day parade that starts at 1:30 p.m.

Click here to read the full article.

Governor Pawlenty on Almanac: At the Capitol

The Governor was on Almanac: At the Capitol with Mary Lahammer last night.

Click on the image to watch the show.

Fishing Opener Details

The Governor's annual fishing opener is next weekend in Walker. The Pilot-Independent has all the details.

Click here for details.

Watch Governor Pawlenty on "Alamanac: At the Capitol" Tonight

TPT 17 at 7:00pm

Click here for Almanac's homepage.

BUSINESS JOURNAL: Gov. proclaims May "Hire A Veteran Month"

Carissa Wyant, Staff Writer

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has proclaimed May as "Hire A Veteran Month."

According to a press release, the Governor's office said it would support the national "Hire Vets First" campaign, which aims to help employers and veterans make use of a national network of employment resources.


The state's job Web site will include a new feature to attract veteran applicants. Employers may add the words "Veteran Friendly Employer" to their job postings on the no-fee Minnesota's Job Bank, on line at www.mnworks.org. Employers will be able to view resumes of qualified veterans, which will display first in resume searches.

ASSOCIATED PRESS: Pawlenty vetoes construction projects bill

By BRIAN BAKST Associated Press Writer

ST. PAUL
Rather than spare the projects he liked, Gov. Tim Pawlenty vetoed an entire state construction funding bill Tuesday and told legislators they'll have to scale it back to must-do items if they want his signature in round two.

Click here to read the full article.