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'''Tim Pawlenty''' is the current [[Republican]] [[governor]] of the State of [[Minnesota]].  He was elected in 2002, taking the place of [[Jesse Ventura]]. Pawlenty has had high approval rating during his governorship<ref>http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/2006/campaign/governor/pawlenty/</ref>. He balanced the state budget without breaking his pledge not to raise taxes and improved education. 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 current [[Republican]] [[governor]] of the State of [[Minnesota]].  He was elected in 2002, taking the place of [[Jesse Ventura]]. Pawlenty has had high approval rating during his governorship<ref>http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/2006/campaign/governor/pawlenty/</ref>. He balanced the state budget without breaking his pledge not to raise taxes and improved education. 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 as Governor. His term expires in January 2011. Pawlenty's name has been mentioned as a potential 2012 presidential candidate, when asked about the speculation he responded "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. Observers expect he will seek the 2012 GOP presidential nomination. <ref>http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/46726117.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU1yDEmP:QMDCinchO7DU</ref>   

 

==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. As Governor, Pawlenty has balanced Minnesota's budget three times without raising taxes, despite facing record budget deficits. Governing as a [[fiscal conservative]], he enacted a property tax cap and eliminated the marriage penalty. On November 30, 2005, a $701 million projected surplus was announced, the first budget surplus for the Minnesota state government since 2001. He proposed and signed into law [[welfare]] reform that requires able-bodied people to seek work.<ref>http://www.redstate.com/diaries/redstate/2008/aug/28/get-to-know-tim-pawlenty/</ref> Governor Pawlenty opposed [[President]] [[Barack Obama]]'s [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]],  

As Governor, Pawlenty has balanced Minnesota's budget three times without raising taxes, despite facing record budget deficits. Governing as a [[fiscal conservative]], he enacted a property tax cap and eliminated the marriage penalty. On November 30, 2005, a $701 million projected surplus was announced, the first budget surplus for the Minnesota state government since 2001. He proposed and signed into law welfare reform that requires able-bodied people to seek work.<ref>http://www.redstate.com/diaries/redstate/2008/aug/28/get-to-know-tim-pawlenty/</ref> Governor Pawlenty opposed Obama's [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]],  

 

"Most Republican governors and most Republicans are concerned or opposed, or concerned for these reasons: The federal government is spending money it doesn’t have. They are deeply in debt and getting deeper in debt by the hour. They’re borrowing money to do that, mostly from the [[Chinese]]. And it’s money we don’t have." <ref>http://www.pri.org/politics-society/government/tim-pawlenty-stimulus-bill.html</ref>

"Most Republican governors and most Republicans are concerned or opposed, or concerned for these reasons: The federal government is spending money it doesn’t have. They are deeply in debt and getting deeper in debt by the hour. They’re borrowing money to do that, mostly from the [[Chinese]]. And it’s money we don’t have." <ref>http://www.pri.org/politics-society/government/tim-pawlenty-stimulus-bill.html</ref>

However, he still accepted the stimulus money for his state,  

However, he still accepted the stimulus money for his state,  

 

:"What is the rule that you can’t participate in federal legislation if you’re concerned about it? If you’re a liberal governor and you’re opposed to military spending, does that mean you don’t take the National Guard money? If you’re opposed to [[No Child Left Behind]], do you not take that money?"  

"What is the rule that you can’t participate in federal legislation if you’re concerned about it? If you’re a [[liberal]] governor and you’re opposed to [[military]] spending, does that mean you don’t take the [[National Guard]] money? If you’re opposed to [[No Child Left Behind]], do you not take that money?"  

Pawlenty was the chairman of the National Governors Association from 2007 to 2008. He describes himself as Pro-Life and supports overturning [[Roe v. Wade]]. On [[gun control]] he supports statewide background checks to carry firearms.<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Tim_Pawlenty_Gun_Control.htm</ref>

Pawlenty was the chairman of the National Governors Association from 2007 to 2008. He describes himself as Pro-Life and supports overturning [[Roe v. Wade]]. On [[gun control]] he supports statewide background checks to carry firearms.<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Tim_Pawlenty_Gun_Control.htm</ref>

[[Category:Minnesota Governors]]

[[Category:Minnesota Governors]]

[[Category:Republican Governors]]

[[Category:Republican Governors]]