Former governor and GOP candidate makes push through southern Minnesota

Republican gubernatorial candidate and former Gov. Tim Pawlenty made a final push on Monday through southern Minnesota in an effort to drum up support before today’s primary election. Along the way he spoke to farmers and agriculture producers about a range of issues, including the tariff.

“Many farmers appreciate the fact that the president is trying to get a better deal, but their plea is to get it quickly because there is a lot of collateral damage with a lot of innocent bystanders getting hurt if this drags on any longer,” Pawlenty told the Herald. “They’re very worried and concerned, and understandably so. My view and voice to Washington is to be tough on China, but don’t be tough on our farmers.”

Aside from the tariff, Pawlenty said healthcare costs are one of the biggest issues facing Minnesotans.

“Finding ways to drive down health insurance costs is critical for Minnesota families,” he said. “The fact of the matter is the Democrats and I have a different view on this. They want to have single-payer healthcare, which is further toward full government takeover of healthcare delivery.

“I think that is a really bad idea that will make matters worse. Since Obamacare was passed, premiums have gone up in the individual market 178 percent and the states in the U.S. that have considered single-payer healthcare have been so stunned by the cost. We need to find solutions and I believe the way to go forward with that is putting doctors and patients in charge, helping patients who need financial help and move it back more towards a market system where you can get some accountability for price and quality.”

Pawlenty addressed recent gridlock in the legislature, saying it should be about getting things done for Minnesota.

“You need leaders who are willing to stand in the breach and take the hits, even from their own party, to get things done,” he said. “I don’t need to go back for the title; I’ve already had that. I don’t need to go sit in the office; I’ve done that. I’m doing this for one reason and that is to get important things done for the state that I love. I’m convinced, given my experience and my strength, I am the best candidate to do that.”

Pawlenty also reflected on his prior two terms.

“People in Minnesota, when they hear you’ve been a two-term governor and have been re-elected and had a pretty successful run at it, view that as a plus,” he said. “It was a very different time. We had a recession when Gov. Ventura left and I inherited a so-called deficit. I didn’t spend 10 years whining about it, I fixed it. The economy recovered for a few years, then we went into a near depression. It was one of the greatest challenges nationally and globally. “When people say ‘He reduced spending,’ yeah, I did. We were in a near depression and people were losing their jobs, losing their houses, paychecks were going down, not up. I asked government to tighten its belt. When people criticize me for that, what they’re really saying is I should have raised taxes in a near depression. I don’t know of many economists who think it’s a great idea to raise taxes in dire economic circumstances. When cities or counties said I reduced funding, I did, and they should have too. The idea there was no choice in those circumstances other than to raise taxes and continue their spending was out of context for the times.”

He also argued for tax relief aimed at those with “modest to middle income,” such as ending taxation on Social Security benefits, and preparing children for the future economy by reforming education through funding with accountability.

Pawlenty left on the message that his candidacy is about “bringing common sense and accountability back to Minnesota government.”

“I think it’s common sense to look at Minnesota’s tax situation and say we need tax relief,” he said. “I think it’s common sense to say we can’t look the other way on illegal immigration, we need to crack down on it. I think it’s common sense to say you can’t be on welfare forever, you have to have work requirements if you’re able-bodied and able-minded. I think it’s common sense to say the government should not take over the whole healthcare system, that patients and doctors should be involved.I think it’s common sense to say schools shouldn’t be measured by how much money is going in, but by how much we’re getting out.

“The choice is, do you want a further march toward socialism and the whole state looking like the politics in Minneapolis or do you want to bring common sense back to Minnesota government?”