Tim Pawlenty Understands Spending Priorities
I had to check the date to make sure it wasn’t April Fools day instead of New Years Eve. Why? Because it’s so rare to see a politician these days who actually seems to grasp the basics of government spending during a disastrous fiscal period such as the one we’re in now. Fresh from YouTube, an encouraging interview with Minnesota Governor and 2012 presidential hopeful, Tim Pawlenty.
PAWLENTY: In Minnesota, we need to do things like prioritize military spending, veterans programs, and some others, but basically, everything else is going to have to be slowed down or cut to make this work. That’s a hard message, but these are tough decisions that are going to be need to be made in tough times. And that’s what leadership is going to have to be about, but unfortunately that’s not what we’re getting from this current Administration or this current Congress.
Q: … How do you answer your critics?
PAWLENTY: Well, in fact, I got sued over it. In fact, we’re in court over it. I’m not going to make any apologies for trying to stand down and defeat proposals — particularly in a high-tax, high-spending state like Minnesota — I’m not going to apologize for trying to defeat proposals to raise taxes and engage in irresponsible spending. I don’t think that’s the right course for Minnesota. I don’t think that’s the right course for our country.
Bonus quote from the interview…
“This is no longer about being a Republican or a Democrat. This is about basic math.”
Watch it yourself below.
8 Responses to “Tim Pawlenty Understands Spending Priorities”
Because Military spending is so much more important than anything else. Schools, police, fire departments, etc continue to squeezed out of cash. Then the Republicans sit back and say, “Look, government doesn't work. Privatize EVERYTHING!”. Well eff yeah, if you starve something to death it will eventually die. But hey, new rockets are so much more important than having fires put out, criminals arrested, or educating our children. I'm so sick of that BS.
I guess you hadn't noticed, but for the last year, your guys have been in charge. If you don't like military spending, stop whining and start cutting.
gov tim
“That’s a hard message, but these are tough decisions that are going to be need to be made in tough times. “
Tough decisions that cost lives.
2007
Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota twice vetoed legislation to raise the state’s gas tax to pay for transportation needs.
Oh yeah, bridges just have to wait. oops.
Pawlenty is on the outside track for 2012.
And tell me how what T Paw is saying is anything different than what every other Republican (including the teabaggers) are saying? It's the same old no touching the military, slash domestic discretionary spending mantra we've been hearing for the past 30 years! Seriously, the fact that anyone finds this different, let alone laudable, is silly.
Of course, it also completely ignores the present economic reality. There is no good reason to cut back on domestic spending as the economy sputters out of its historic slump. Not to mention that many government programs are counter-cyclical. Just why anyone thinks that choking off aggregate demand at a time like this is beyond my comprehension.
Two problems with your snark there Hemm – first those transportation bills that Gov. Pawlenty vetoed had the majority of the money going to LIGHT RAIL FUNDING and not bridges. The other FACT is that the 35W bridge was BEING REPAIRED when it went down so the Nick Coleman meme that the 35W bridge was being neglected by Gov. Pawlenty is just a load of hooey!
LL
You really didn't think this through did you?
[...] Commenting on an interview with Gov. Pawlenty, Jeff Shaw of TheModerateVoice.com notes the following about T-Paw: I had to check the date to make sure it wasn’t April Fools day instead of New Years Eve. Why? Because it’s so rare to see a politician these days who actually seems to grasp the basics of government spending during a disastrous fiscal period such as the one we’re in now. [...]