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The Spectacle Blog
He’s only in office for a couple more weeks, but Governor Tim Pawlenty’s not sitting on his laurels. In an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal today, he talks about something with which Minnesota is all too familiar: The takeover of unionized public employees.
His solution?
Over the last eight years in Minnesota, we have taken decisive action to prevent our problems from becoming a state crisis. Public employee unions fought us virtually every step of the way. Mass transit employees, for example, went on strike for 44 days in 2005—because we refused to grant them lifetime health-care benefits after working just 15 years. It was a tough fight, but in the end Minnesota taxpayers won.
Later he discusses his federal solutions, which sound like great ideas, but also seem impossible to accomplish. It will take a conservative President with some chutzpah and a posse of like-minded politicians behind him to implement anything close to what he’s suggesting.
As an outgoing Governor, it’s hard not to read anything by—or about—Tim Pawlenty at this point without looking at with him with national significance, especially in pieces like this when he spells out his state and federal ideas.
View all comments (10) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Nicole Russell
http://spectator.org/blog/2010/12/13/tim-pawlenty-govt-unions-are-a
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Eric Cartman| 12.13.10 @ 9:18AM
Chutzpah? Republicans? Hmmph. I'm not seeing it.
GreatOne| 12.13.10 @ 9:28AM
Americans do not be fooled - Tim Pawlenty is not a true conservative. Didn't raise our income taxes, but raised every "fee" imaginable. Not strong pro-lifer, and when in the state legislature, exchanged his vote on including homosexual behavior into the state Human Rights statutes for his wife getting a judgeship. Do not trust him.
Pelligrino| 12.13.10 @ 9:48AM
GreatOne, I take it that you are from Minnesota, yes? (If so, keep us informed -- acurately informed -- on what Mr. Pawlenty has or has not done. Please.)
One major beef I have every time we get around to those running for president during the 6-8 months prior to the first presidential primaries (January 2012, this go-round) is that we....
As in the case of Illinois State Sentator Barrack Obama, we hear so little from those in and around Springfield, IL as to the SPECIFICS on votes, real quotations, who are his best buddies in the Springfield legislature, etc. CONCRETE acts/information that permit a WHOLE-PERSON view.
Actions tell me who you are.
It's just a bit too easy (and cozy for the bigtime media) for these 8 or 9 wannabees to stand on stages and do things that look more like trash daytime TV than substantive party nomination/presidential debates.
There is really nothing of substance at all to see or hear during campaigning.
PLUS: A candidate can say anything. ANYTHING at all. Anything to look/sound/appear like a sound thinker, fiscal conservative, family-oriented, etc.
We have a POTUS now who is a world-class interviewee for radio and definitely TV/web videos.
So we're fed lies. All we mostly get during campaigns is makeup, soundbites, and acting. (now add Tweets to the mix for 2012)
It is the deeds that tell us the condition of a man's soul.
And deeds like selling a vote for one's spouse's career enhancement....those are the deeds we need to know.
Did Mr. Tim Pawlenty really do this?
Bud Grant Fan| 12.13.10 @ 10:40AM
No, he did not do this. There are some bitter fools in Minnesota who think the GOP should run Pat Buchanan types for every office and lose by 50%+ points. Pawlenty is by far the most conservative governor we've ever had and he won re-election. That should tell you something. Some folks think we should run Al Quist for every office and aren't satisfied unless we do.
GreatOne| 12.13.10 @ 12:50PM
Pawlenty may be the most conservative, but he is not "a" conservative. And no, I don't say this because he's not Pat Buchanan or Allen Quist. In order to get around his "no new taxes" pledge,
Pawlenty raised user fees on everything - colleges, court system, licenses, etc. These are nothing but taxes to begin with, just called something else. Also, when he slashed government aid to smaller cities, that resulted in property taxes around the state being rasied (which I actually support; better to have that done locally, so easier to vote out those responsible).
Pawlenty voted for Human Rights Amendment that banned discrimination in housing and employment based on sexual orientation in 1993. In 1994, his wife was appointed a judge. Obvious why (and no, no one is going to come out and admit that, but it was well-discussed at the time). Pawlenty later said in 2002 during the primary debates that his vote was a mistake and he has signed a pledge in support of a state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. I give him less credence than I do Romney on his purported conversion.
And don't forget that Pawlenty was a big supporter of McCain during the primary in 2008. That demonstrates where his true beliefs are, and should confirm my allegations that he is not a true conservative. I should also add that Pawlenty is not a bad guy. He's good natured, personable, funny, and I'm not at all saying he's a RINO. He's a moderate/moderate-conservative. But if the recent congressional elections have any meaning, Pawlenty should not be seriously considered in 2012.
Occam's Tool| 12.13.10 @ 11:03AM
Dear Pellegrino:
He did an OK job on taxes. He was not eloquent, nor persuasive. He had 1 bad pardon. He's quite bland. Minnesotans, as a group, don't care for him, and he would not have been elected governor again in a state where the legislature went Republican (the Republican candidate for governor had 2 DUIs and lost narrowly. A good candidate could have pole-axed Dayton.). We have better candidates---Jindal, Pence, and Daniels pop immediately to mind.
youfamissim| 12.13.10 @ 12:27PM
The more read about Pence, the more intrigued I become with him. His recently published speech in "Imprimus" was remarkable. If that is indeed who Pence is, I like him. I worry he lacks the name recognition. Pence now stands in a position where he could gain notoriety and prove his metal - this Tax Deal is seriously flawed... Death Tax for one. Pence has other intangibles - looks, speaking talent. He lacks a large resume' - for comparison = good and bad. Only Jim Demint stands tall these days. Demint is not interested in POTUS.
Most importantly -
What conservative can handle the MEDIA - make them look foolish and frustrate them in their work to derail that candidate's chances?
Who will / can speak directly to the US citizen and make a compelling case?
Who has the cajones to stand up to the MEDIA/Egobama when the race cards are tossed about like confetti?
Wayne | 12.13.10 @ 12:54PM
Before we decide who should or shouldn't run for president, lets look at what he is saying. This needs to be a key issue in the election and thank you Pawlenty for bringing it up.
We need to disband the government unions. They are a coup. They force liberal dems upon us so that these dems then force higher taxes and socialism upon us. They work against the benefit of the people.
Now go after the special union benefits: the pension plans need to be converted to SSN. the health plans need to conform to medicare. Reduce wages to conform to the private sector. This is the new class warfare.
Oldefarte| 12.13.10 @ 1:54PM
He's entirely correct about labor unions. They have/are ruining this country economically and will continue doing so if/until they are somehow outlawed. They are the sole reason why unionized domestic businesses cannot compete with those of foreign countries or with non-unionized domestics; and they are the sole reason why our governments are strapped with payroll expenses resulting in unbalanced budgets and municipalities on the brink of bankruptcy. If we are to survive as a nation and to prosper economically, labor unions must be eliminated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
youfamissim| 12.13.10 @ 1:56PM
Unions... errrrr. How can it be legal for public employees, who ostensibly serve the citizens and their families, to make contributions towards electing anyone? If a public employee that runs for office - Joe Miller, AK - uses any public equipment, or his time, campaigning is subject to criminal sanctions, how on earth can a union be permitted to donate, attend rallies, and otherwise support a candidate? The union "shield" is one that must fall under the same criminal restrictions. I see union employees proudly wearing the cause du jour, SEIU shirts, children in tow, walking from the US Capitol to Union Station for a free lunch paid for by the Union on a regular basis. Decertification of all public sector unions (teachers included) is a campaign item that must be made public - their perks, their pay, protecting incompetents, all the outrageous costs and activities the tax payers are compelled to bear is something I believe has many selling points.
Perhaps the most important action the new House should take is forcing Egobama to take a stance on many issues - bills submitted, that he refuses to sign - will clearly delineate for the public edification those items the MEDIA cannot be trusted to expose - i.e. the shortcomings, contradictions, and inexperience of Ego.