The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : Pawlenty and Growth

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Tim Pawlenty's speech outlining his economic policy includes a lot to digest and analyze. Considering that he purports to run a truth-telling campaign, however -- "I’m willing to tell Americans the hard truth. And I believe Americans are ready to hear it" -- Pawlenty's claims about growth are a little off-key.

He suggests that 5 percent annual economic growth is possible with his policies. Maybe it is -- the U.S. has certainly grown that fast before. But the plain truth is that the president is simply unable to guarantee 5 percent growth, or even any growth at all. The truth is that the direction of the economy is largely out of the president's control (c.f. the Romer-Bernstein unemployment chart).

Also, promising all kinds of tax cuts (as Pawlenty does) is easier when your plan includes the huge increase in tax revenues that would come with 5 percent growth. It's a lot harder when you have to plan for anemic growth.

Edited for clarity.

View all comments (5) | Leave a comment

martin j smith| 6.7.11 @ 3:55PM

Like all candidates he needs to be vetting thru debates and questions to answer. Its question time baby!!!!!!!!!!

amy| 6.8.11 @ 12:58AM

Pawlenty left Minnesota with the fourth worst projected budget deficit in the country. His record inspires no confidence. We are not serious if we nominate him.

David| 6.7.11 @ 7:12PM

OK, maybe all politicians are heir to wildly speculative hyperbole as a disease but Pawlenty's "Google Test" is just plain silly. Just because the private sector CAN do something, doesn't mean it SHOULD or MUST do it. Incompetence and/or willful misconduct PLUS the profit motive sounds like a profoundly poor choice compared to public sector incompetence and/or willful misconduct.

Clint| 6.7.11 @ 9:43PM

Club For Growth:
"Tim Pawlenty was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1992. He was re-elected five times and became majority leader in 1998. He was then elected Governor in 2002 and was re-elected in 2006. Since Pawlenty has never served in Congress, he does not have a rating by the Club for Growth. However, the Cato Institute, a free market think tank, produces a biennial scorecard on the nation’s governors based on their tax and spending policies and actions. Over his two terms, Pawlenty’s scores were:

2010 – “A”
2008 – “B”
2006 – “C”
2004 – “B”

Before that, he was rated by the non-partisan Taxpayers League of Minnesota during his time in the Minnesota Legislature. In 2002, the last year that Pawlenty was in office as a state legislator, he received a 75%. Over the years 1997-2002, his average score was 80% while the average House Republican score over that time period was just over 75%. "

amy| 6.8.11 @ 12:58AM

Pawlenty left Minnesota with the fourth worst projected budget deficit in the country. His record inspires no confidence. We are not serious if we nominate him!