Changes

{{Officeholder/governor

{{Officeholder/governor

|state=Minnesota

|state=Minnesota

|terms=January 6, 2003 - Present

|terms=January 6, 2003 - January 3, 2011

|preceded=[[Jesse Ventura]]

|preceded=[[Jesse Ventura]]

|former=n

|former=n

|succeeded=

|succeeded=[[Mark Dayton]]

}}

}}

}}

}}

'''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 former [[Republican]] [[governor]] of the State of [[Minnesota]], having served from 2003 until 2011. Pawlenty had high approval ratings 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 in the 2010 election. Observers have speculated that he will seek 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. Observers speculated that he will seek 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>   

==Early Life==

==Early Life==

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.  

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> 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>

As Governor, Pawlenty 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>  

 

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>

[[Image:TimPawlentySpeech.jpg|200px|thumb|Governor Pawlenty speaking at the National Governors Association, 02/23/08.]]

[[Image:TimPawlentySpeech.jpg|200px|thumb|Governor Pawlenty speaking at the National Governors Association, 02/23/08.]]

Governor Pawlenty opposed Obama's [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]],  

Governor Pawlenty opposed Obama's [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]],