There seems to be some speculation In the Washington Post and the Mpls Star Tribune that Gov. Tim Pawlenty is at the top of John McCain's short list for his VP running mates. So maybe its time we should look at a few of the things Gov. Pawlenty has done for Minnesota.
Gov Pawlentys on Property Taxes
Their has been an 82% average increase in homeowners' property taxes that's come under Pawlenty's watch and their is a 7.7 percent increase that's forecast for next year
Roads and Bridges
What else need to be said our roads and Bridges are crumbling and it took an override of the Governors veto to get new money into the system. Pawlenty has been asleep at the wheel while our transportation system has fallen apart.
Pawlentys unfair tax cuts
The tax cuts of 1999-2001 produced a fairness gap that favors the rich, and it's growing. The latest calculations say top earners pay about 9 percent of their incomes in state and local taxes, compared with 12.5 percent for middle earners
Pawlenty's JobZ program according to Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal needs fixing
Launched in 2003 by Gov. Tim Pawlenty, JOBZ is an economic development initiative that gives tax breaks to business that move to, or are located in, depressed areas. The report, released Friday, said nearly 7 in 10 businesses that have participated in JOBZ would have expanded by roughly the same amount even without subsidies. The program may have hurt competing businesses that aren't subsidized, the study also found.
JOBZ, which was intended to target parts of Minnesota that are economically distressed, has not been reaching important areas in that category...
So if Gov. Pawlenty has done this much damage to Minnesota, just think what he could do to the Federal government.
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Pawlenty needs a lot of vetting … and Minnesota bloggers need to be at the forefront.
My reading (and commenting) on various blogs that have mentioned Pawlenty as a choice indicates a PR image that has been created by the NRC. People that have seen him on TV think he sounds great, energetic and hitting the right talking points (heh, let’s admit it, the guy can sell– if he’s selling you what you want to hear.)
The national image is of a guy who was twice elected in a Democratic-leaning state. Minnesotans know that Pawlenty was aided by Tim Penny and Peter Hutchinson and never got a majority of the votes.
Twice in the past year, I have seen Pawlenty on TV reacting to bad news without the composure that I want in a Vice President ( the first instance was the I-35 collapse when Channel 9 approached him and the second was when he found out about Iran ties to Essar Global [ more here]). How will he handle a world crisis?
So what common attributes are there between McCain and Pawlenty?
How about the fear of Grover Norquist (or Minnesota’s version- David Storm). Face it, Pawlenty took the no taxes pledge to get elected and had to keep it. McCain knows that he has to embrace the Bush tax cuts to keep Grover and the Club for Growth happy. So what’s the common answer … they both want Corporate Tax Cuts ! Remember, Timmy just set up his committee which for all practical purposes is made up of representatives of corporations … shades of Cheney’s Energy Task Force … Pawlenty is their man.
Pawlenty is NOT QUALIFIED to be VP … he has NO FOREIGN POLICY experience and NO MILITARY experience. He could be a Secretary of Commerce or HHS but that’s the limit.
Look at Pawlenty’s education policy and health care ideas … he does not offer anything that most voters will like.
It would be interesting to hear McCain and Pawlenty discuss the impact of ethanol subsidies.
McCain can do better. Besides, unless he picks the RIGHT person from Minnesota, the state will go to Obama. Disclamer : I have already endorsed Michele Bachmann for VP.
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