Pawlenty disbands political committee, gives $85,000 to controversial charity
Tuesday, September 08, 2009 at 2:40 pm
- 5 Comments
Gov. Tim Pawlenty has disbanded his gubernatorial committee, formalizing his decision not to seek a third term. In terminating the organization, he had to disburse more than $500,000 in remaining campaign funds. The funds were split almost evenly between political contributions and charitable gifts, as reported by Tom Scheck at Minnesota Public Radio.
The charitable donations, totaling $284,000, are spread among ten different nonprofit groups. The most significant beneficiary: Minnesota Teen Challenge, which received roughly $85,000 from the governor. As previously reported by MnIndy, the organization has been criticized for purportedly using taxpayer funds to spread its Christian message.
Other recipients include Minnesotans’ Military Appreciation Fund ($30,000), Minnesota Military Family Foundation ($30,000) and the Starkey Hearing Foundation ($25,000). The latter was started by Bill and Tani Austin, prominent GOP donors who two years ago hosted a fundraiser featuring President Bush at their home in Eden Prairie.
Pawlenty split the political funds, totaling $290,000, between three GOP organizations: the Republican Party of Minnesota ($204,000), the House Republican Campaign Committee ($40,000) and the Senate Victory Fund, $40,000.
5 Comments
Comment posted September 8, 2009 @ 5:13 pm
This sniveling little man is a blight on the State of Minnesota.
Why not donate the money to cancer research or heart/lung organizations, instead of posturing partisan and religion-based foundations?
Comment posted September 8, 2009 @ 10:31 pm
Does anyone know why Pawlenty does not return the money to the donors ?
If someone gave the money to Pawlenty to run for Governor and then he does not, isn’t that a “fraud” ? Here’s the analogy, a charity requests money for some purpose (erect a new buildeing) then does not proceed … legally that money must offered back to the donors … why not in this instance ?
Second question, I presume that the Pawlenty for Governor Fund is being terminated since he cannot use it for a Presidential campaign. Now, is it possible that Pawlenty would give the money to Republican Party of Minnesota (for example) who in 2011 would make a donation to Pawlenty for President ? Looks like a game of three-card-monty.
Comment posted September 9, 2009 @ 8:56 am
It never ceases to amaze me how petty some people can be!! He gave money to fight teen drug and alcohol abuse, to military families and to aid people with their hearing difficulties and you complain that he did not give it to what you wanted. How petty! As for giving it back to people you example is not a fair analogy in that if they are building a building they have records of who gave what when and they do not spend it until they build. In this case they take in money and spend it, who would they give it back to? The last ones that gave it? The first ones? The ones who gave the most (just kidding, you would never do that)? The ones who gave the least? Think before you react!
Pingback posted September 9, 2009 @ 9:52 am
[...] Party, which got $284,000. The biggest winner among the charities was Minnesota Teen Challenge. Minnesota Independent reports: The most significant beneficiary: Minnesota Teen Challenge, which received roughly $85,000 from [...]
Comment posted September 21, 2009 @ 11:23 am
Mike! Dumbocrats never think before they speak!!!
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