Video: Iowa Democrats hammer Pawlenty’s tax record
Wednesday, July 06, 2011 at 8:57 am
- 3 Comments
As Republican presidential hopeful and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty starts his swing through Iowa, the state’s Democratic Party is taking aim at his no-taxes pledge.
Iowa Democrats released a video Tuesday that features Minnesota citizens blaming Pawlenty’s stance on taxes for big increases in local property taxes during his term as governor. According to a Minnesota 2020 report, real property taxes paid in Minnesota increased by 26 percent, or $1.7 billion, from 2002 to 2010 as state aid for local communities dropped precipitously.
Pawlenty kicks off his Iowa campaign in earnest today with stops in Clear Lake and Ames. He also recently announced the hire of former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee’s daughter, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who will head up Pawlenty’s efforts in the Iowa Straw Poll, held in August.
In a Tuesday interview with the Wall Street Journal, Pawlenty said he plans to campaign in Iowa on his record as Minnesota governor and his no-taxes pledge. Pawlenty has so far ranked low in all Iowa polls, but told the Journal he wasn’t worried and would maintain his approach.
“I am not overly worried or panicked in any sense,” said Mr. Pawlenty in an interview Tuesday. “We start from a lower point than the people who are better known or ran last time. I’m confident this steady approach will begin to pay dividends, particularly as we get into the fall and winter.”
Watch it:
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Comment posted July 6, 2011 @ 10:21 am
Slapshot Tim and the lie about taxation. Bad for Minnesota, disastrous for the country.
Despicable.
Jeff Wilfahrt, Rosemount, MN
Comment posted July 6, 2011 @ 1:28 pm
TPaw’s statement about the Metro Transit strike in 2004 is as misleading as he is. Few know that at the time Metro Transit was planning on partly opening the new light rail ine (Hiawatha) in April, 2004. The problem was that there was one car that had been delivered and was able to operate. By having the strike Metro Transit had a good reason to delay the opening until the end of June, 2004 when they had enough cars to start service. As a result the then General Manager suddenly “resigned” on short notice and left Metro Transit. As for T-Paw breaking the union (ATU) that is as big a lie as he is.
Comment posted July 6, 2011 @ 4:18 pm
Pawlenty is too well known in Iowa. As neighbors in the state of Iowa, they’ve been able to see Pawlenty up close for 8 years and that was enough to make them pretty sure he’ll not do well as a President.Pawlenty borrowed money cover deficits; he let the 35W bridge collapse even after warnings from MN Department of Transportation that it was a danger; he passed the blame for that negligence and destruction onto Carol Molnau instead of standing up as a leader and a man and being responsible. Pawlenty did little to improve the state and can certainly be called with great confidence the “Do-nothing Governor” Yeah, they know Pawlenty in Iowa and that’s why he polls so low there.
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