Pawlenty

In a matchup between President Barack Obama and Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Obama would win by ten points, according to a new St. Cloud State University poll (pdf) released Tuesday. When asked who they would vote for in 2012, 49 percent of Minnesotans surveyed said they’d support Obama, while 39.7 percent said they’d back Pawlenty.

Minnesota has its first suspected case of the new flu that has killed more than 100 people in Mexico. The affected person, who is associated with Rocori Middle School in Cold Spring, is “recovering at home” and “is responding well,” state officials said at a news conference this morning. The person did not travel to Mexico but had contact with someone who did.

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, made explicit Friday morning a vow he strongly hinted at earlier this week that Republicans would block any effort to seat Democrat Al Franken before Sen. Norm Coleman’s expected court challenge to the statewide Minnesota recount is resolved. Warning of “damage to the Senate,” Cornyn told reporters that seating a recount [...]

In a move that political analysts say could hurt Tim Pawlenty’s VP chances, the governor vetoed the Foreclosure Deferment Bill on Thursday. The measure would’ve kept nearly 15,000 Minnesotans from losing their homes by giving them the time and authority to renegotiate their loan terms while they make a required good-faith effort to pay. [...]

Rupert Murdoch’s Wall Street Journal sees Gov. Tim Pawlenty landing himself in the hot seat when it comes time to veto the Minnesota Subprime Borrower Relief Act. Pawlenty has spoken against the proposal and stated that he would not sign the bill, effectively vetoing it.

The article author, Amy Merrick, writes that “if the governor takes [...]

Republican presidential nominee John McCain is hosting a group of political power couples for the Memorial Day weekend at his home in Sedona, Ariz. The list includes several potential McCain runningmates — Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney — instantly sparking speculation among the media ranks.

The McCain [...]

Environmental advocacy groups are feeling positive at the close of the 2008 legislative season. This session saw the passage of funds for the Central Corridor light rail line; a new state park; and the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, which will allow voters to approve dedicated funding for Minnesota’s natural resources and cultural heritage. [...]

Gov. Tim Pawlenty put his veto pen to use 23 times during the 2008 legislative session, including eight bills in a two-day span. Most notable among these was his Feb. 22 veto of the transportation finance bill, which was overridden in the House by a vote of 91-41 and in the Senate 47-20. Several members [...]

As a growing chorus of voices from all corners begin to question the benefit of agriculturally derived biofuels, Gov. Tim Pawlenty has signed into law a new biofuel mandate. The agriculture and veterans policy bill (SF 3683) mandates that by 2015, diesel fuels sold in Minnesota must contain at least 20 percent biofuel (B-20). The [...]

Gov. Tim Pawlenty has vetoed legislation that prohibits the manufacture, processing or distribution of certain electronics, furniture and mattresses treated with commercial decabromodiphenyl ether, commonly known as decaBDE.

DecaBDE is a chemical flame retardant that has many industrial applications. Concerns that the chemical may be harmful to humans, while inconclusive, have resulted in similar bans in [...]