Flip-FlopText Box: PAWLENTY’S FLIP-FLOP ON CORPORATE WRONGDOING Flip: Pawlenty says during his campaign for governor (at the height of the Wall Street corporate scandals) that he has “no tolerance” for wrongdoing or deceptive practices by business officials.1 Flop: Pawlenty not only tolerates corporate fraud by his closest associates, he even appoints some of them to important governmental posts despite their wrongdoing: Pawlenty appoints longtime political ally Vicki Grunseth to the Metropolitan Airports Commission, touting her private business experience.2 What experience is that? Grunseth was an executive of New Access Communications and founder of QAI.3 Both companies were sanctioned by numerous states for consumer fraud, and Grunseth was even personally sued by at least one state before Pawlenty appointed her.4 Grunseth was also director of finance of TelEurope Ltd. and on its board.5 The Australian Securities and Investments Commission halted the sale of that company’s securities on several occasions for providing deceptive and misleading information to investors.6 The sales were intended to raise money for New Access and its parent, NewTel. Pawlenty was on the three person NewTel board until December, 2001. Pawlenty draws $10,000 for serving on the three person board of directors of a telecom company whose largest operating subsidiary is ripping off consumers. (Click here to read more.) Pawlenty says he didn’t know of the fraud. City Pages says of the Governor’s denials: “[E]verybody knows the [telecom] industry regularly plays crooked—except Tim Pawlenty. Like Claude Rains in Casablanca, he is shocked. Shocked!”7 Pawlenty appoints his campaign manager to a top position at the Commerce Department in which he was responsible to regulate the telecom industry, even though the manager had previously been found by the Minnesota courts to have engaged in telemarketing fraud. (Click here to read more.) Pawlenty’s campaign treasurer is found by an administrative law judge to have engaged in deception through an equity-stripping enterprise in which he duped unsuspecting homeowners in foreclosure of their home equity. The Pawlenty Commerce Department imposes no fine. (Click here to read more.) Pawlenty allows one of his closest political associates to help select the Commerce Commissioner, who regulates the telecom industry in Minnesota, even though that associate’s telecom companies had been sanctioned by regulators in many states for consumer fraud. (Click here to read more.) American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida gives $15,000 to the Republican Party. The Pawlenty Administration then settles a case with American Bankers on terms significantly more favorable than offered during the Ventura Administration. The insurer pays $1,000,000 to settle criminal charges that it made an illegal corporate political contribution. 1“A $250K Helping Hand To Pawlenty Campaign,” Star Tribune, 1B, August 13, 2002. 2“NewTel Stock Valuation Questioned – Australia Halts The Sale of Teleurope Securities,” St. Paul Pioneer Press, A4, August 1, 2003. 3“Happenings In Minnesota’s 2003 Legislative Session,” Associated Press, January 9, 2003. 4“Politicians’ Telecoms Wronged Consumers” and “QAI: A Legacy of Success or Slams?,” St. Paul Pioneer Press, July 13, 2003. 5NewTel Stock Valuation Questioned – Australia Halts The Sale of Teleurope Securities,” St. Paul Pioneer Press, A4, August 1, 2003; “More Questions About Firm That Has ties To Newtel,” St. Paul Pioneer Press, C1, August 27, 2003. 6NewTel Stock Valuation Questioned – Australia Halts The Sale of Teleurope Securities,” St. Paul Pioneer Press, A4, August 1, 2003; NewTel Stock Valuation Questioned – Australia Halts The Sale of Teleurope Securities,” St. Paul Pioneer Press, A4, August 1, 2003. 7“Secrets and Lies: Why Telegate Matters,” City Pages, p. 16, July 23, 2003. Text Box: FLIP-FLOP ON HOW LONG HE WILL STAY IN OFFICE FLIP: As a candidate for the state legislature, Tim Pawlenty said that, if elected, he would not serve more than two or three terms. (Eagan This Week, December 29, 1991.) Pawlenty also said: “We need to get away from people making a career out of this stuff. Political survival has become the sole objective” of politicians. (Pioneer Press, “Pawlenty will run for new legislative seat,” December 25, 1991.) “I’m not going to be there long, so whatever impression I’m going to make, I’m not going to wait long to make it.” (Eagan This Week, November 8, 1992.) FLOP: Once elected, Pawlenty ran five full terms. With four years as Governor, two years on the Eagan City Council, and ten years in the State Legislature, Pawlenty has held government office for over 16 years. Text Box: FLIP-FLOP ON HMO ACCOUNTABILITY FLIP: In 2000, Pawlenty voted to allow patients to sue their HMOs when harmed as a result of a denial of coverage. (HF 3491, 4/06/00) FLOP: The very next year, Pawlenty voted against the exact same provision. (HF 2486, 4/26/01) Text Box: FLIP-FLOP ON IS A FEE A TAX   FLIP:  After the Eagan City Council voted to approve a "storm water drainage utility rate increase," then-City Council Member Tim Pawlenty noted that homeowners were upset and that some considered the "utility rate" a tax rather than a user fee. (Eagan Chronicle, February 7, 1990.)   FLOP:  As Governor, Pawlenty has tried to hoodwink voters by claiming that his $400,000,000 tax on cigarette smokers is really a fee so as to purportedly keep his "no new tax" pledge.  The Governor's insistence on calling the tax a fee prompted a lawsuit in which a district court judge ruled the "fee" invalid.  The judge noted that had it been called a tax, no lawsuit could have been filed. Text Box: FLIP FLOPS, LIKE TOBACCO, ARE A HARD HABIT TO BREAK     Flip:  “I will not support fee increases that are purely or primarily intended to simply raise revenues to resolve our fiscal dilemma.”  (Letter to Senator Larry Pogemiller 5/7/03).     Flop:  “Minnesotans will pay about $559 million worth of new fees and fee increases in 2006 and 2007.  The largest new fee by far is the new ‘health Impact fee’ on cigarettes and other tobacco products.  That charge alone, which will equal 75 cents per pack of cigarettes, will raise more than $401 million.”  (Pioneer Press 7/30/05).  Pawlenty enacted the following additional fees:  $3 on driver’s licenses, $20 for people who fail road test twice, $10 for those who fail their written test twice, increased surcharges on court fines and real estate recording, snowmobile trail stickers, cross country ski passes, boat registrations, sales tax on car leases, and $80 million in other fees.  David Strom, head of the Minnesota Taxpayers League, raised the following question:  “How many flip-flops does it take to make you wonder whether the governor is merely flexible, or is perhaps losing touch with his core principles?”  (StarTribune 7/17/05).  The Governor has never met a fee he hasn’t hiked. Text Box: I KNOW, THE GOVERNOR SHOULD CREATE A TASK FORCE ON FLIP-FLOPS    Flip:  The Governor has appointed over 20 task forces and commissions to advise him on issues.     Flop:  Unfortunately, a number of these task forces and commissions never met, never issued a report, or were ignored by the Governor. Text Box: IS THERE A TWELVE STEP PROGRAM FOR FLIP-FLOPS?     Flip:  Representative Pawlenty:  “As to the type of taxes that might be increased in emergency circumstances, very small increases on a variety of taxes should be considered to avoid disproportionate impact by any one tax-paying sector of the state’s economy.”  (Pioneer Press 10/13/92).     Flop:  According to the StarTribune, “The cost of government in Minnesota today is significantly lower than a decade ago, but the little guy is picking up a greater share of the tab.  Put simply, taxes - in particular, property taxes - are growing faster than the incomes of most.  But the incomes of Minnesota’s most prosperous residents have climbed faster than the cost of state and local government.”  . . . “[A state analysis] projects for 2007 effective Minnesota tax rates - after federal taxes - ranging from 6.8 percent for people with incomes of $323,340 or more to 18.1 percent for people with incomes of $8,344 to $14,056.” Text Box:   THERE IS NOTHING QUICKER THAN A STADIUM FLIPPER. Flip:  In 1997, Representative Tim Pawlenty made it clear that he opposed public funding for professional sports stadiums.  “(If elected Governor) we aren’t going to subsidize billionaires to provide millionaires with a place to play baseball.”  (Pioneer Press 9/21/97).  “He opposes any public involvement, including the use of gambling proceeds, calling professional baseball a ‘cartel’ and blasts “subsidizing billionaires so they can pay millionaires.”  (StarTribune 10/13/97).  As a candidate for Governor, Pawlenty expanded on his criticism:  “The economics of baseball are insane.The owners are doing nothing to address the real problem, which is a lack of real revenue sharing, and free agency is out of control.  They are asking the public to subsidize that insanity, and it’s not a real appetizing proposition.”  (StarTribune 11/7/01).  As a legislator Pawlenty voted against the Target financing bill (5/3/94.  House Journal 7960), voted against the Twins stadium bill (10/97), and voted against the Minnesota Wild loan (4/9/98.  H.F. 3843).  As a candidate for Governor, he also tanked the Twins stadium.  (3/25/02.  H.F. 2214/S.F. 1857).     Flop:  In his first year as Governor, Pawlenty appointed a Twins Stadium Commission (11/18/03) and in March of 2004 he proposed that property tax levies be utilized to build a new Twins and new Vikings stadiums.  (3/15/04, Pawlenty News Release).  By 2005, Pawlenty was calling for a special session to pass up to three (Twins, Vikings, and Gophers) stadium bills. PLEASE PASS THE FLIPPERS.     While Governor Pawlenty proposed a special session to pass the stadium legislation, he sent out a menu to legislators to ask them which stadium they would like to support.  Legislators were heard to comment that they expected him to act less like a waiter and more like a leader. Text Box: HOW ABOUT A TURBO CHARGED FLIP FLOP?     Flip:  In his January 2005 State of the State address, Governor Pawlenty announced his “Turbo charged truth in taxation” proposal, where he demanded that property taxpayers have veto power on major government spending decisions by county boards and city councils.  (City Pages 9/14/05).     Flop:  So much for turbo charging the truth about taxation.  In a complete and total reversal, by the end of the session, Pawlenty said he would support legislation to bypass current laws that require Hennepin County property taxpayers to approve any public funding of a Twins stadium.  (City Pages 9/14/05).  Once you pass flippers, it is hard to stop. Text Box: PAWLENTY’S FLIP FLOP ON TRANSPARENCY FOR POLITICAL CANDIDATES Flip:  As a candidate for Governor, Pawlenty says he supports a bill expanding financial disclosure requirements for constitutional officers: “The issue is not a question of how much [money politicians have], but what an officeholder is invested in, whether it constitutes a conflict of interest.” Flop:  Pawlenty hides the fact that, while a candidate for Governor, he is paid $4,500 per month from a telecom company whose owner’s other companies are in the soup with regulators in numerous states for cheating consumers. As City Pages summed it up: “So over a 14-month period, while Pawlenty was a sitting legislator and active candidate for governor, he was paid by a company with significant interest in legislative and regulatory policies—and no one but his close political allies knew about it. And he can’t say with any specificity what he did for his pay.” Text Box: Flip-Flop On Property Taxes   FLIP:  As a candidate for the Eagan City Council, Tim Pawlenty said that one of the "greatest threats" to the city's quality of life was "skyrocketing property taxes."  (Eagan Chronicle, 10/18/89.)   FLOP:  As governor, Tim Pawlenty has cut back on local government aid (LGA), causing steep property tax increases at the local level.  Text Box: FLIP-FLOP ON DISCRIMINATION   FLIP:  As a State Legislator, Tim Pawlenty voted for a bill to outlaw discrimination against gays and lesbians.  (HF 585, 3/31/93.)  Pawlenty said then of his vote:  "It was not a referendum on the gay lifestyle.  The issue was whether we should allow discrimination in the areas of jobs or housing simply because of somebody's sexual orientation.  The bill doesn't allow affirmative action for gays, gay marriages, or teaching the gay lifestyle in the public schools."  (Eagan This Week, 5/30/93.)   FLOP:  During the 2002 Republican Convention contest for Governor, Pawlenty said he regretted his vote.  (Associated Press, 6/14/02; Star Tribune, "State GOP Convention," 6/16/02; Pioneer Press, "Pawlenty wants to kick down the liberal door," 8/4/02.) Text Box: THE GOVERNOR’S LIPS MAY SAY “NO” BUT DOES HE REALLY MEAN “YES?”     Flip:  On Northstar commuter rail:  “We have spent too much time dreaming about expensive rail projects that most Minnesotans won’t use and will not improve congestion,” says Governor Pawlenty.  (StarTribune 10/25/01).  Pawlenty opposed the proposed $300 million Northstar commuter rail line between Minneapolis and St. Cloud.  Concerned with the “horrifying costs,” Pawlenty said, “It’ll be cheaper to give people a cab ride from downtown Minneapolis to the airport than it will be to operate this light rail line; it’s estimated somewhere between $20 and almost $50 a ride, depending on whose statistics you look at, and that is just hard to justify.”  (MPR 4/10/02).     Flop:  “We need to move forward with efforts to relieve traffic congestion. Our efforts to build roads and bridges are a big part of the plan, but we also must pursue effective transit options along priority commuter corridors.  The Northstar commuter rail line fits the bill.”  (Pawlenty Press Release 8/3/04). Text Box: Flip-Flop On Name Calling   FLIP:  In January, 2002, after Governor Ventura called legislators "puppets on strings" who were too controlled by special interests, Tim Pawlenty said this:   "Name calling is the road to nowhere."(1)    FLOP:  During the 2005 Legislative Session, however, Pawlenty not only called a legislative proposal "profoundly stupid,"(2) but also questioned of legislators:  "how dumb can they be?"(3)  So much for name-calling being the "road to nowhere."     (1) Star Tribune, "Shortfall brings out barbs at Capitol," 1/5/02. (2) Star Tribune, "Divided senate passes tax bill," 5/7/05. (3) Star Tribune, "Positions calcify as hopes for deal dim," 5/20/05. Text Box: FLIP-FLOP ON THE TIMING OF ELECTIONS FLIP: As an Eagan City Council Member, Tim Pawlenty said with regard to moving the timing of municipal elections to coincide with state and federal elections: “It makes sense to have all of the elections at once, particularly if it’s going to save us money.” (Eagan Chronicle, April 17, 1991.) FLOP: As Governor, Tim Pawlenty has manipulated the timing of special legislative elections in an attempt to favor candidates of his own political party, rather than staging the elections on uniform dates likely to maximize voter turnout. The Star Tribune said of Pawlenty, “Scheduling a special election on a less-than-obvious date is a timeworn ploy by a governor who believes low turnout is in his party’s advantage.” (Star Tribune, “St. Cloud elections send positive message; Crafty timing, rule-stretching and divisive issues didn’t work,” December 29, 2005.) Despite the Governor’s shenanigans, his party lost recent special elections in Plymouth and St. Cloud. Text Box: FLIP-FLOP ON ABORTION FLIP: As a candidate for the State Legislature, Pawlenty said that the political reality was that Bill Clinton was elected President and would appoint Supreme Court Justices who would support the Roe v. Wade decision, meaning abortion would remain legal for the foreseeable future. To that, he said: “I think we could move beyond the fundamental question and start talking about other aspects of family planning.” (Eagan This Week, November 8, 1992.) Pawlenty also said the abortion issue isn’t a “big deal” to him. (Pioneer Press, October 7, 1992.) FLOP: To secure his party’s endorsement, Pawlenty engaged in an aggressive campaign to “out-pro-life” his opponent, Brian Sullivan. Click here to see one of Pawlenty’s campaign brochures on abortion.

Click to see one of Pawlenty’s campaign brochures on abortion
Text Box: FLIP-FLOP ON CIGARETTE TAXES FLIP: In 2002, Tim Pawlenty opposed Jesse Ventura’s proposal to boost taxes on cigarettes, saying: “The Governor is saying he has a message for Jane and Joe six pack. When they get up in the morning, they might have a cigarette, and the Governor wants to increase their taxes.” (Pioneer Press, “Legislators complain about Minnesota Governor’s proposed budget,” January 11, 2002. FLOP: In 2005, Governor Pawlenty backed a $400 million cigarette tax (which he labeled a fee). Text Box: FLIP-FLOP ON THE HEALTH CARE ACCESS FUND FLIP: MinnesotaCare, which provides health coverage to the working poor, is funded by a tax on health care providers. As a candidate for the State Legislature, Tim Pawlenty said he supported the funding mechanism for MinnesotaCare. Pawlenty said: “…Doctors and people in the health-care profession want…the provider surcharge removed, and they want it put on the general fund. I do not support that….this mechanism or some other mechanism needs (a funding source) where the pot isn’t bottomless….I support the (MnCare) initiative. I support the funding mechanism as it is currently situated….” (Eagan Sun-Current, October 7, 1992.) FLOP: In 2000, however, Pawlenty proposed eliminating the health care provider tax used to fund MinnesotaCare, saying: “We think it is common sense to get rid of dumb taxes.” (Associated Press, “House Republicans call for ending health care taxes,” September 5, 2000; Star Tribune, “House GOP vows to fight ‘sick tax,’” September 6, 2000.) Text Box: FLIP-FLOP ON EDUCATION FUNDING FLIP: As a state legislator, Tim Pawlenty said that local levies should never be relied on to provide education basics because that’s the responsibility of the State, saying “levies are meant to be discretionary for things that are nice but not essential.”1 He also said that the Legislature can help improve public schools by making sure that funding increases “at least mirror inflation” to pay for costs of materials and personnel.2 FLOP: Under Governor Pawlenty’s 2004-2005 budget, school districts suffered a two percent cut in funding when adjusted for inflation.3 And, as Governor, Pawlenty has made the quality of a child’s education highly dependent upon local property taxes.4 1. Eagan Sun-Current, November 28, 2001. 2. Minnesota Sun-Current Publications, October 21, 1998. 3. Star Tribune, K-12 Budget; Education package is flawed,” May 26, 2003. Pioneer Press, “House, Senate pass K‑12 bill, DFLers warn cuts will raise local taxes, fees, class size,” May 23, 2003. 4. Star Tribune, K-12 budget; Education package is flawed,” May 26, 2003. Text Box: FLIP-FLOP ON WHETHER “THE BUCK STOPS HERE” FLIP: As a Republican member of a Legislature controlled by Democrats, Pawlenty said: “And you won’t hear me say I can’t get the job done because of the Democrats. I will either get the job done or leave.” (Eagan This Week, November 18, 1992.) FLOP: Governor Pawlenty was the first Governor in Minnesota State history to shut down the government because of gridlock. Rather than accept responsibility, he blamed Democrats and State Legislators for his own lack of gubernatorial leadership. Despite this failure of historic proportions, Pawlenty is running for reelection. Text Box: FLIP-FLOP ON CLASS SIZE FLIP: As a candidate for the legislature, Tim Pawlenty claimed that his “No. 1 [education priority was to] reduce class sizes, particularly in elementary schools.”1 Two years later, Pawlenty again stated that “our schools need proper funding for initiatives such as class-size reduction….”2 FLOP: As a state legislator, Pawlenty voted against an amendment that would have significantly reduced class size.3 As Governor, Pawlenty has stood by while class sizes have increased. According to the National Education Association (NEA), Minnesota now ranks 38th in the nation in average class size.4 The NEA report is confirmed by a recent study by the State Auditor’s Office.5 1. Pioneer Press, “38B Candidates’ ideas differ on surplus, education,” October 16, 1998. 2. Eagan This Week, October 28, 2000. 3. HF 2874/SF 3378, Journal of the House, March 5, 1998, page 8008. 4. National Education Association Report, June 2005. 5. Office of the State Auditor, “Financial Trends of Minnesota School Districts and Charter Schools,” June 2005. Text Box: FLIP-FLOP ON “NO NEW TAX” PLEDGE FLIP: Pawlenty told a reporter that a pledge he took to oppose all tax increases during his term did not mean he had agreed to veto tax hikes that may be passed by the legislature. (Pioneer Press, “Time for a bigger beltway, Pawlenty says,” October 4, 2002.) FLOP: Later, on the very same day, after officials of the Moe and Penny campaigns accused Pawlenty of softening his “no new tax” pledge, Pawlenty said that he would, in fact, veto any tax hike. (Pioneer Press, “Time for a bigger beltway, Pawlenty says,” October 4, 2002.)