There are no conflicts of interest in Pawlenty’s Minnesota

Since Gov. Tim Pawlenty took office in 2003, not one public official has filed a conflict-of-interest disclosure with the state ethics board, an unprecedented streak for a disclosure system that was routinely used for the previous three decades. Critics blame the precedent set by the Pawlenty administration’s own numerous ethical lapses, as well as the outdated disclosure requirements that are rife with loopholes.

Pawlenty in war of words with own press office

Gov. Tim Pawlenty was at odds with his own communications office on a couple points at his press conference yesterday — including the topic of his talk.

Recount roundup: No back-pay for future senator; Dems aim to blame ‘frustrated’ T-Paw

With his legal bills expected to pass $10 million and no hope for getting his missed paychecks, Al Franken and the Democrats officially got the go-ahead to start a new fund for contributions. Meanwhile, Gov. Tim Pawlenty acknowledges it’s “frustrating” for Minnesota to go without a second senator — but he vows he won’t sign an election certificate until required to do so by law.

Budget wars: Harsh words on St. Patrick’s Day

Gov. Tim Pawlenty released his revised budget today, which proposes deeper cuts to health and social services while increasing K-12 education funding levels. Days earlier, Senate DFLers…

‘No new taxes’: T-Paw faces record deficit with familiar mantra

As the 86th two-year session of the Minnesota legislature gets under way, Gov. Tim Pawlenty says there’s at least one option off the table to fix a state budget that faces a $4.8 billion shortfall: raising taxes.

Pawlenty decries “some candidates” who say economy’s good when it isn’t

MNpublius transcribes a conversation between Gov. Tim Pawlenty, once the top contender for the would-be-VP gig Sarah Palin got, and his spokesperson Brian McClung on today’s edition of the governor’s radio show:

“We don’t want you to sound like

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‘Downright creepy’: TPT note writer revealed… as Pawlenty’s press guy

There was an unsigned note sitting on TPT reporter Mary Lahammer’s capitol desk Tuesday morning. Scrawled across a printed copy of Lahammer’s blog post on how gender might be a factor in Gov.…