Timothy James Pawlenty is an American Republican politician and businessman who served as 39th Governor of Minnesota.
Born November 27, 1960 in St. Paul, Minnesota, Pawlenty began politics as a member of Eagan City Council. In 1992, he was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing District 38B in suburban Dakota County, and became majority leader by House Republicans in 1998. Pawlenty was elected as Governor of Minnesota, both in 2002 and 2006. His governorship from 2003 to 2011 was noted for his “no new taxes” pledge, lowering of state spending, and controversial bonding bills. Pawlenty sought the 2012 Republican presidential nomination from May to August 2011.
October 30, 2003 - Governor Pawlenty said today (THURSDAY) that he'll encourage the Legislature to pass a bill next session that would lower the legal blood alcohol limit from point one zero to point zero-eight. Pawlenty says lowering the legal limit will reduce the number of drunk drivers on the roads. The state will also receive millions of dollars in federal highway money that was only going to states that have the point-zero-eight standard. The Legislature failed to pass the bill in previous sessions. Opponents argue the lower limit could hurt business for bars, restaurants and bowling alleys. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
December 4, 2003 - Governor Pawlenty's call for returning the death penalty to Minnesota is encountering stiff criticism from some who say the governor is trading on the publicity surrounding the disappearance last month of 22-year-old Dru Sjodin. One day after a convicted sex offender was arrested in connection with Sjodin's apparent abduction, Pawlenty said he'd support capital punishment in certain murder or attempted murder cases that involve sexual assault. But that plan is likely to face stiff opposition from lawmakers in both parties. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
January 16, 2004 - MPR’s Michael Khoo reports on stadium discussions in the Twin Cities. More than two dozen cities, counties, and private citizens have pitched their ballpark solutions to Governor Tim Pawlenty's Stadium Screening Committee. The governor solicited outside input to help him decide what role, if any, the state might play in financing new facilities for the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. The plans cover a range of sites sprinkled across the metropolitan area and offer funding options from local taxes to state dollars to casino revenues.
March 1, 2004 - 15 years after state officials signed gaming compacts with Minnesota's Indian tribes, 18 casinos have been built. They generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue, far more than anyone imagined they would. The state of Minnesota gets only a small sliver of that money and it's used to regulate the casinos.
April 22, 2004 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports Governor Tim Pawlenty was unsuccessful in his efforts to persuade the shareholders of Pfizer, the world's largest drug company, to charge Americans less for prescriptions. In report, Pawlenty speaks on re-importation of drugs.
April 23, 2004 - Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports on JOBZ (Job Opportunity Building Zones), a Minnesota jobs program. What Governor Tim Pawlenty calls the "mother of all economic incentives" has landed its first big out-of-state prize for rural Minnesota. A South Dakota company says Minnesota's JOBZ program played an important role in its decision to expand to Luverne…but despite Pawlenty's enthusiasm, officials with Total Card, Inc. say JOBZ was not the most important factor.
June 4, 2004 - Governor Tim Pawlenty and legislative leaders say they've taken an important step forward toward calling a possible special session later this month. Lawmakers were unable to reach compromise earlier this year on a host of issues ranging from deficit-reduction to tougher public safety laws. Talk of a special session to resume their work, however, had been stalled as lawmakers disagreed over what items should be on making that an issue in a special session
September 15, 2004 - MPR’s Erin Galbally reports on flooding in Austin, Minnesota after a massive rainstorm in area.
September 27, 2004 - Mainstreet Radios Dan Gunderson reports that Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty wants to double the amount of ethanol required in gasoline sold in the state. The Governor also expects state government to cut gasoline consumption in half in the next decade. Those proposals are part of a renewable fuels initiative announced by the governor.
November 2, 2004 - Mainstreet Radio's Tom Robertson reports that a Minnesota poll shows most Minnesotans favor a gaming proposal from Governor Tim Pawlenty. The governor wants Indian tribes to share some of their gambling revenue with the state. The poll conducted last week also shows a majority of Minnesotans are opposed to an expansion of gambling in the state.