Capitol View: August 31, 2010 Archive

Pawlenty going "All In" in Iowa?

Posted at 5:02 AM on August 31, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Pawlenty travel, Tim Pawlenty

IowaPolitics examined where the Iowa GOP political strategists are lining up for 2012. In the report, it suggested Pawlenty has built "the largest and most formal organization in Iowa:

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who has been to Iowa four times and has spent seven days here since last fall, appears to have built up the largest and most formal organization in Iowa so far as he works to improve his name recognition in the state. At least six Iowans are working for him, and he's one of only two potential candidates who have formed an Iowa political action committee, Freedom First PAC - Iowa, whose treasurer is Mark Havlicek of Clive.

Former Iowans and national Republican strategists Sara Taylor and Terry Nelson are senior advisers for Pawlenty's PAC, while Brian Hook is the policy director. Also working with Pawlenty as consultants are Chuck Larson and Karen Slifka of the Larson Shannahan Slifka Group (LS2g), a bi-partisan public relations, public affairs and government affairs firm in West Des Moines.

"Neither are helping in an official capacity, but they did help out with our recent travels in the area," said Alex Conant, a spokesman for the Freedom First PAC.

Larson is a former state senator and former chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa who served as an ambassador to Latvia during the administration of President George W. Bush. Hook is a graduate of the University of Iowa law school. Nelson is an Iowa native who served for a time as John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign manager. And Taylor is an Iowa native who ran Bush's White House office of political affairs.

Pawlenty raises money for Brady

Posted at 6:43 AM on August 31, 2010 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: Pawlenty travel, Tim Pawlenty

Gov. Tim Pawlenty was in Chicago last night raising money for the Republican candidate for governor of Illinois. Pawlenty, who is Vice-Chair of the Republican Governor's Association, held the private fundraiser for Bill Brady. Brady is challenging Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn.

A spokesman for Pawlenty says Pawlenty's visit to Chicago was a "quick trip" and he was back in the state within a few hours.

Comment on this post

Pawlenty rejects health care funds

Posted at 1:37 PM on August 31, 2010 by Tom Scheck (3 Comments)
Filed under: Pawlenty travel, Tim Pawlenty

Gov. Pawlenty today signed an executive order directing state agencies to decline all discretionary participation in the federal health care legislation.

"Obamacare is an intrusion by the federal government into personal health care matters and it's an explosion of federal spending that does nothing to make health care more affordable," Pawlenty said in a news release. "To the fullest extent possible, we need to keep Obamacare out of Minnesota."

A spokesman for Pawlenty hasn't returned a question on how much federal money is at stake.

Democrats in the Legislature say Pawlenty is "putting his personal political ambitions ahead of the future of Minnesota." DFL Senator John Marty says he can't understand why Pawlenty is rejecting money that could help the state's bottom line.

"It doesn't matter if anybody supports it or not. The question is whether you turn down the money or not. The plan is going ahead. It's a question do we want to turn down our share of the money that our taxpayers paid for. Why should we turn down the money when the other states are taking it?"

It isn't certain how much money is at stake. DFL legislative leaders say state law does require Pawlenty to apply for some of the funds. They say there's a possibility the Legislature could take him to court if the doesn't apply.

Pawlenty is taking steps to run for president in 2012.

Here's the Executive Order:

EXECUTIVE ORDER 10-12

DIRECTING STATE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES

REGARDING DISCRETIONARY PARTICIPATION

IN THE FEDERAL HEALTH CARE LAW

I, TIM PAWLENTY, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and applicable laws do hereby issue this executive order:

WHEREAS, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("PPACA" or "the Act") (Pub.L. 111-148) was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010; and

WHEREAS, the Act represents a dramatic attempt to assert federal command and control over this country's health care system, which accounts for one-sixth of our nation's economy, thereby reducing individual freedom for health care decisions; and

WHEREAS, the Act includes unprecedented federal intrusions into individual liberty, including the mandate that individual citizens are compelled to purchase health insurance under penalty of law; and

WHEREAS, the Act was passed with massive new spending commitments at a time when the growing federal government debt threatens private sector economic growth; and

WHEREAS, the revenue to pay for the Act is based on increased taxes and fees coupled with unrealistic assumptions regarding purported future cost-savings; and

WHEREAS, this legislation includes a multitude of programs and demonstration projects intended to speed the transition to federally-controlled health care; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Laws of Minnesota 2010, 1st Special Session, Chapter 1 (Special Session Chapter 1) my Administration has determined Minnesota will not participate in the early expansion of the Medicaid entitlement program offered by the federal government as part of the legislation; and

WHEREAS, consistent with this determination and in recognition of my obligations to protect Minnesota's sovereign interests and those of its citizens, the boundary between state and federal government must be maintained to prevent an unwise and unsustainable federal takeover of health care in our State.

NOW, THEREFORE, I hereby order that:

All executive branch departments and agencies are directed that no application shall be submitted to the federal government in connection with requests for grant funding for programs and demonstration projects deriving from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("PPACA" or "the Act") (Pub.L. 111-148) unless otherwise required by law, or approved by the office of the Governor.

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 2009, section 4.035, subdivision 2, this Executive Order will be effective fifteen (15) days after publication in the State Register and filing with the Secretary of State and will remain in effect in accordance with Minnesota Statutes 2009, section 4.035, subdivision 3.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have set my hand this 31st day of August, 2010.

Comment on this post