Minnesota Independent

Tim Pawlenty. Photo: Gage Skidmore, Flickr

Pawlenty confronted by Edina teen who says discrimination against gays ‘hurts’

By Andy Birkey | 08.12.11 | 3:09 pm

At a campaign stop in Iowa on Friday, a member of the audience grilled Tim Pawlenty on his views about rights for LGBT people. Gabe Aderhold, a senior at Edina High School, asked Pawlenty why he has “not had the courage to stand for me and my friends. You are discriminating against me and it hurts.” Pawlenty said he will never be at the point “where I’ll say that every domestic relationship is the same as traditional marriage.”

Dayton vetoes anti–gay marriage amendment in symbolic gesture

By Andy Birkey | 05.25.11 | 11:22 am

On Wednesday morning, Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed a proposed amendment that would ban same-sex marriage in the Minnesota Constitution. The veto is only symbolic — the Minnesota governor has no authority over constitutional amendments. In his veto message Dayton called the amendment “divisive and destructive” and urged Minnesotans to vote against it in 2012.

Citing lack of compromise, Dayton vetoes GOP budget bills

By Andy Birkey | 05.24.11 | 1:45 pm

As expected, Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed all budget bills Tuesday that were submitted by the Republicans. His message to the GOP: “Compromise.” Dayton also hit Republicans for including divisive social issues in their budgets.

Pawlenty gives his veto pen to the historical society

By Andy Birkey | 12.28.10 | 11:10 am

Gov. Tim Pawlenty handed over artifacts from his time as governor on Monday including an over-sized “Veto Pen.” In a press release from the governor’s office, Pawlenty boasted that he broke the record for most vetoes in one year and that he used the veto or line-item veto 299 times in his 8 years in office.

Obama won’t prosecute medical marijuana users in states where it’s legal

By Andy Birkey | 10.19.09 | 11:35 am

Although medical marijuana use is still illegal on the federal level, the Obama administration said today that it won’t go after patients or their providers in states where it is legal.

Pawlenty vetoes medical marijuana, supporters vow to push amendment

By Andy Birkey | 05.25.09 | 2:09 pm

Gov. Tim Pawlenty vetoed a bill to legalize marijuana for terminally ill patients late Friday evening, saying he sides with law enforcement opposition to the bill. Bill proponents say they will introduce a constitutional amendment to bypass the governor, noting overwhelming popular support in the state on the issue.

Pawlenty says he will veto medical marijuana bill

By Andy Birkey | 05.19.09 | 4:34 pm

Gov. Tim Pawlenty told reporters on Tuesday afternoon that he will definitely veto a medical marijuana bill that passed the state Legislature on Monday. But, he added, “I have great empathy for the sick.”

After heated debate, medical marijuana passes House, faces Pawlenty veto

By Andy Birkey | 05.19.09 | 8:14 am

For the first time in a decade of effort, medical marijuana bill is heading to the governor’s desk. Legislators added new restrictions to the final version of the bill in an attempt to assuage Gov. Palwenty’s concerns. But one legislator might have taken his opposition too far, as Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Delano, offered a series of amendments many in the House found offensive.

GOP lawmaker: The word ‘veto’ is ‘locked up in a safe,’ only Pawlenty can say it

By Chris Steller | 05.13.09 | 9:26 am

The word “veto” used to roll gleefully off Republican tongues, particularly “Governor Veto” Tim Pawlenty’s. Now, according to Republican state Rep. Pat Garofalo, the word is verboten.

Religious right trumps science in Pawlenty’s stem cell veto

By Andy Birkey | 05.29.08 | 10:17 am

The stem cell bill offered at the Minnesota Legislature this year, which would have allowed the University of Minnesota to use state funds to conduct research on embryonic stem cells, was authored by a Democrat and doctor…