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'''Tim Pawlenty''' is the former [[Republican]] [[governor]] of the State of [[Minnesota]], having served from 2003 until 2011. Though he never won even 50% of the vote, Pawlenty's appeasement of liberals earned him high approval ratings during his governorship.<ref>http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/2006/campaign/governor/pawlenty/</ref> Though he pledged not to raise taxes, he balanced the state budget by imposing "state fees" on activities such as purchasing cigarettes, harvesting food, using emergency services, obtaining a marriage certificate, and public parking. He was reelected in 2006, beating [[Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party]] (DFL) candidate [[Mike Hatch]] in a close election.<ref>http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/11/07/mngov/</ref> Pawlenty was considered one of the main contenders for the Republican Vice Presidential spot for [[John McCain]] in 2008.

'''Tim Pawlenty''' is the former [[Republican]] [[governor]] of the State of [[Minnesota]], having served from 2003 until 2011. Though he never won even 50% of the vote, Pawlenty's appeasement of liberals earned him high approval ratings during his governorship.<ref>http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/2006/campaign/governor/pawlenty/</ref> Though he pledged not to raise taxes, he balanced the state budget by imposing "state fees" on activities such as purchasing cigarettes, harvesting food, using emergency services, obtaining a marriage certificate, and public parking. He was reelected in 2006, beating [[Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party]] (DFL) candidate [[Mike Hatch]] in a close election.<ref>http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/11/07/mngov/</ref> Pawlenty was considered one of the main contenders for the Republican Vice Presidential spot for [[John McCain]] in 2008.

In June 2009, Governor Pawlenty announced he would not seek a third term in the 2010 election, and instead seeks the 2012 GOP presidential nomination. <ref>http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/46726117.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU1yDEmP:QMDCinchO7DU</ref> "I don't know what the future holds for me, I'm not ruling anything in or out." <ref>http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/46726117.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU1yDEmP:QMDCinchO7DU</ref>

In June 2009, Governor Pawlenty announced he would not seek a third term in the 2010 election, and instead seeks the 2012 GOP presidential nomination.<ref>http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/46726117.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU1yDEmP:QMDCinchO7DU</ref> "I don't know what the future holds for me, I'm not ruling anything in or out." <ref>http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/46726117.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU1yDEmP:QMDCinchO7DU</ref>

Pawlenty has since dropped out of the race.

Pawlenty has since dropped out of the race.

Although described by some as being [[pro-life]], Pawlenty gutted the "Woman's Right to Know" law that pro-lifers had spent nine years working on passing. Pawlenty arranged for a publicity stunt with a liberal medical group to justify removing the essential information that [[abortion]] causes an increase in breast cancer.<ref>http://www.lifenews.com/2003/12/30/state-281/</ref><ref>http://www.health.state.mn.us/wrtk/handbook.html</ref>  Abortions decreased only slightly in Minnesota while Pawlenty was governor - not significantly more than the slight decrease nationwide.

Although described by some as being [[pro-life]], Pawlenty gutted the "Woman's Right to Know" law that pro-lifers had spent nine years working on passing. Pawlenty arranged for a publicity stunt with a liberal medical group to justify removing the essential information that [[abortion]] causes an increase in breast cancer.<ref>http://www.lifenews.com/2003/12/30/state-281/</ref><ref>http://www.health.state.mn.us/wrtk/handbook.html</ref>  Abortions decreased only slightly in Minnesota while Pawlenty was governor - not significantly more than the slight decrease nationwide.

==Early Life==

==Early life==

Tim Pawlenty was born on November 27, 1960, in [[Saint Paul]], Minnesota. Although he was raised as a [[Roman Catholic]], he converted as an [[Evangelical Christian]]. His mother died of cancer when Pawlenty was 16. He was the only child in his family to graduate from college, where he earned a Political Science and Law Degree from the University of Minnesota, and later became a practicing attorney.   

Tim Pawlenty was born on November 27, 1960, in [[Saint Paul]], Minnesota. Although he was raised as a [[Roman Catholic]], he converted as an [[Evangelical Christian]]. His mother died of cancer when Pawlenty was 16. He was the only child in his family to graduate from college, where he earned a Political Science and Law Degree from the University of Minnesota, and later became a practicing attorney.   

== Political Career ==

== Political career ==

Pawlenty was elected to the Minnesota [[House of Representatives]] in 1992, and reelected five times. In 1998, he was elected as the state House Majority Leader. In 2002, Pawlenty was the Republican nominee for Governor. He faced strong opposition from Minnesota DFL state senator Roger Moe, and independent candidate, former Congressman Tim Penny. Opinion polls that showed the race tight, however he won the election by seven percentage points, mostly by winning voters in the suburbs of Minneapolis-St. Paul.  

Pawlenty was elected to the Minnesota [[House of Representatives]] in 1992, and reelected five times. In 1998, he was elected as the state House Majority Leader. In 2002, Pawlenty was the Republican nominee for Governor. He faced strong opposition from Minnesota DFL state senator Roger Moe, and independent candidate, former Congressman Tim Penny. Opinion polls that showed the race tight, however he won the election by seven percentage points, mostly by winning voters in the suburbs of Minneapolis-St. Paul.  

In September 2009, Pawlenty accused President [[Barack Obama]] of imperiling the nation’s security and pushing a far-left agenda that threatens to leave the nation drowning in debt.  He reserved his harshest criticism for Obama’s decision to scrap a controversial plan for a missile defense shield in [[Europe]].  

In September 2009, Pawlenty accused President [[Barack Obama]] of imperiling the nation’s security and pushing a far-left agenda that threatens to leave the nation drowning in debt.  He reserved his harshest criticism for Obama’s decision to scrap a controversial plan for a missile defense shield in [[Europe]].  

:"Not only did President abandon missile defense, but he is opening negotiations with Iran and North Korea. The lessons of history are clear: Appeasement and weakness did not stop the Nazis, appeasement did not stop the Soviets, and appeasement did not stop the terrorists before 9/11."<ref> Alex Isenstadt, "Pawlenty decries 'appeasement'," [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/27331.html#ixzz0RXSfaNUy ''Politico'' Sept. 18, 2009] </ref>

:"Not only did President abandon missile defense, but he is opening negotiations with Iran and North Korea. The lessons of history are clear: Appeasement and weakness did not stop the Nazis, appeasement did not stop the Soviets, and appeasement did not stop the terrorists before 9/11."<ref>Alex Isenstadt, "Pawlenty decries 'appeasement'," [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/27331.html#ixzz0RXSfaNUy ''Politico'' Sept. 18, 2009]</ref>

== References ==

== References ==

{{DEFAULTSORT: Pawlenty, Tim}}  

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pawlenty, Tim}}  

[[Category:Minnesota Governors]]

[[Category:Minnesota Governors]]