February 24, 2004 - Governor Tim Pawlenty says federal concerns won't prompt him to shut down a state website that provides consumer information on Canadian pharmacies. The Food and Drug Administration sent Pawlenty a letter yesterday (MONDAY) calling the website "unsafe, unsound and ill-considered". Attorney General Mike Hatch says the FDA doesn't have any grounds for legal action against the website. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
February 11, 2004 - Governor Tim Pawlenty wrapped up a two-day trip to Iraq today (WEDNESDAY). Pawlenty and five other governors spent a second day in Baghdad at the invitation of the Bush administration. Pawlenty says he leaves Iraq convinced that President Bush was right to go to war against Saddam Hussein's regime. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
February 5, 2004 - Governor Pawlenty delivered a State of the State address today (THURSDAY) that was more upbeat than his first one. Pawlenty says Minnesotans have reason to be optimistic. He noted the state has largely overcome a historic budget deficit without raising state taxes, and he highlighted several reforms he's already proposed over the last few months. DFL leaders object to Pawlenty's description of his first year, and disagree with his vision for the future. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
February 3, 2004 - A new MPR-Pioneer Press poll shows more than half of Minnesotans give Governor Tim Pawlenty's job performance high marks. The numbers are higher than a similar poll conducted nearly a year ago. The poll also shows Minnesotans are divided about the budget fix approved last year to plug a record four-point-two billion dollar gap. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
February 3, 2004 - Governor Pawlenty today (TUESDAY) outlined a series of proposals to help Minnesota's emerging biotech industry. Pawlenty has made biotech a top priority of his administration. But the governor's recommendations don't go as far as the proposals from the biosciences council he created last year. Industry experts say even if Pawlenty's package passes in its entirety, Minnesota will have to do more down the road to be a major player in the biotech industry. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
January 20, 2004 - Later this week, the U.S. Senate could take up the 820-billion dollar spending bill the House passed last month. The measure combines seven spending bills, including packages for education, health, agriculture, and transportation. Critics say the one-thousand-plus page bill contains millions of dollars in wasteful porkbarrel spending. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum looks at the process, and what's in the bill for Minnesota...
January 15, 2004 - Governor Tim Pawlenty just wrapped up a week of press conferences highlighting projects in his bonding proposal. After cutting budgets last year, the bonding proposal gave the governor the chance to dish out some spending around Minnesota. The statewide media blitz was typical for a high-energy governor who has proven adept at dealing with the press. Pawlenty has released a flurry of initiatives in recent weeks, and some Democrats believe the activity level is designed to deflect criticism of his administration. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
January 14, 2004 - Governor Pawlenty today (WEDNESDAY) released a bonding package totaling 760-million dollars. The size of the proposal surprised some House Republicans who favor a leaner package of public works projects, while some Senate DFLers called it skimpy. The bill would fund construction at colleges, universities and state buildings, prison expansion, roads, rail and environmental projects. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
December 30, 2003 - Next week marks the end of Governor Tim Pawlenty's first year in office. Pawlenty says he accomplished nearly everything he set out to do. The governor kept his campaign pledge to balance the budget without raising state taxes, and pushed through the bulk of his legislative agenda. But during the last half of the year, he took some heat for the effects of his budget, for income he earned from a political ally when he was a candidate and for the release of a level three sex offender since he took office. Pawlenty says he doesn't think the public is paying attention to the criticism. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
December 30, 2003 - Governor Pawlenty says the state's transportation system is in crisis, and is offering up toll lanes as one solution. The Pawlenty administration will soon seek bids from private entities to build toll lanes on congested corridors. Some legislators question whether the proposal will do much to solve the state's transportation problems. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.