>”Pawlenty is very conservative on a lot of issues. If you dont know that, you dont know your facts.”
lol, well, ok. (here we go again ....)
Let me throw some FACTS out to you.
Supports Massachusetts-style health care reform, including a health care exchange and an individual mandate
Has called for banning all prescription drug advertising, and seeks government imposed price controls for drugs offered through Medicare
Proposed a $4000 per child preschool program for low-income children
Pushed a statewide smoking ban in workplaces, restaurants and bars (many business have since shut down)
Increased the states minimum wage
Imposed some of the most aggressive and expensive renewable energy mandates in the country
Was an ardent supporter of the farm bill
Received only a C ranking on Catos 2006 Governors Report Card, finishing below such Democrats as Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack and tied with Democratic Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell.
Pawlenty believes the GOP should become the “Party of Sam’s Club”, catering to all (Remember McCain?)
Pawlenty has argued for:
Increased government subsidies for alternative energy
More government sponsored health insurance coverage (We have a quasi Mass style health insurance up here (think public option lite)
For using government to cater to the needs of down-scale voters.
Now, lets talk taxes.
Pawlenty ran on a promise of “No New Taxes”. (sound familiar?)
Under his “very conservative” (your words, not mine) leadership. property taxes have increased by over 3 BILLION dollars.
Minnesota has the 6th highest taxes in the United States
FEES HAVE DOUBLED
Backed a $200 million tax increase on cigarette consumers in 2005
Backed a $109 million corporate tax increase in 2008.
He even acknowledged in his first budget that it relied on $300 to $500 million in INCREASED FEES that did not include tuition increases at public colleges and universities.
Pawlenty signed into law in May 2005 a bill that will raise the minimum mandated mixture of ethanol to 20% in 2013. Pawlenty has also lobbied the Governors’ Ethanol Coalition to mandate higher ethanol use nationwide. (remember? lower gas mileage, higher fuel and food costs?)
Conservative Republican governors were not supportive of Pawlenty’s presentation on clean energy to the governor’s association, which he gave in cooperation with Ed Rendell(D), who is the governor of Pennsylvania and the NGA’s Democratic vice-chairman. With Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas, Pawlenty was co-chairman of the association’s energy committee. The effort received “adamant opposition” from governors of oil producing states.
As EX-Senator Coleman was once a Democrat who changed to Republican to get elected, Pawlenty started his career as an INDEPENDENT who later changed to Republican. (This should explain a lot)
>”Pawlenty is very conservative on a lot of issues. “
I think, I would have said it differently. Pawlenty is KINDA Conservative on a FEW issues.
I live here in this state. I personally know how the additional “FEES” have impacted me financially (and no, I dont use tobacco products, except for a good cigar a couple times a year).
My only thought at this point is this. If you liked McCain, you’ll LOVE Pawlenty. He’s had lots of experience at NOT being a TRUE Conservative.
At this point we know more about this whale than we do the affirmative action bastard in the Oval Office. She also has more work experience than the sonofabitch who nominated her. But that isn’t reason to endorse such a poor candidate