Tim Pawlenty

Pawlenty was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, to Eugene Joseph Pawlenty, and his wife, Virginia Frances (née Oldenburg).{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/08/us/politics/08pawlenty.html|title=Pawlenty Looks to National Stage|author=Davey, Monica|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 7, 2008|access-date=June 1, 2011}} His father, who drove a milk delivery truck, was of Polish descent, while his mother was of German ancestry.{{cite web |url=http://www.wargs.com/political/pawlenty.html |title=Ancestry of Tim Pawlenty |author=Reitwiesner, William Addams |publisher=wargs.com |author-link=William Addams Reitwiesner}} She died of cancer when he was 16. Pawlenty grew up in South St. Paul, where he played ice hockey on his high school's junior varsity squad.{{cite news|url=http://www.citypages.com/2004-01-28/news/a-portrait-of-the-governor-as-a-young-weenie/|title=Grant Hart recalls his old classmate, Tim Pawlenty|author=Jim Walsh|date=January 28, 2004|newspaper=City Pages|access-date=August 9, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924100924/http://www.citypages.com/2004-01-28/news/a-portrait-of-the-governor-as-a-young-weenie/|archive-date=September 24, 2008|df=mdy-all}}

Intending to become a dentist, Pawlenty enrolled in the University of Minnesota, the only one in his family to go beyond high school.{{cite magazine|last=Sharpiro|first=Walter|title=The Tragedy of Tim Pawlenty: He did everything right. And that was the problem|url=http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/91908/tim-pawlenty-governor-presidential-candicacy?passthru=Yjk5NDg3N2I0OTExMTI1ZjQ5NWI4MTVhYjg0YzQwZWI|magazine=The New Republic|access-date=July 26, 2011}} But he changed his plans and spent the summers of 1980 and 1982 working as an intern at the office of U.S. Senator David Durenberger. In 1983, he graduated with a B.A. in political science.{{cite web|url=http://www.polisci.umn.edu/people/alumni.php|title=PoliSci Alumni|author=Political Science Dept of College of Liberal Arts|publisher=University of Minnesota|date=July 5, 2008}} He received a Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1986.{{cite web|url=http://www.law.umn.edu/news/commencementday05-17-08.html|title=Empowered with a New Degree, Class of '08 Sets Forth – 120th Commencement Ceremony|publisher=University of Minnesota Law School|date=February 11, 2008}} There, he met his wife, Mary Anderson, whom he married in 1987.{{cite news |title=Mary Pawlenty leaves bench—First Lady will be top counsel for mediation firm |work=St. Paul Pioneer Press |date=January 5, 2007 |author=Melo, Frederick}}

Pawlenty first worked as a labor law attorney at the firm Rider Bennett (formerly Rider, Bennett, Egan & Arundel), where he had interned while a law student.{{cite web|title=Pawlenty Biography|url=http://2012.republican-candidates.org/Pawlenty/Biography.php|publisher=2012 Republican Candidates: Comparing the 2012 Republican Candidates|access-date=July 26, 2011}} He later became vice president of a software as a service company, Wizmo Inc.{{cite web |url=http://www.wizmo.com |title=Main page |publisher=Wizmo}}{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/2002-11-06-pawlenty_x.htm|title=His plans changed, but message didn't|date=November 7, 2002|author=Tom Squitieri|newspaper=USA TODAY}}

Having moved to Eagan, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Pawlenty was appointed to the city's Planning Commission by Mayor Vic Ellison.{{cite web|url=http://www.minnpost.com/stories/2008/09/08/3409/whats_next_for_tim_pawlenty|title=What's next for Tim Pawlenty?|date=September 8, 2008|publisher=MinnPost|access-date=September 10, 2008}} One year later, at age 28, he was elected to the City Council.{{cite web|url=http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/campaign2002/governor/pawlenty.shtml|title=Campaign 2002: Governor Tim Pawlenty|publisher=Minnesota Public Radio}}

Pawlenty entered state politics in 1990 as a campaign advisor for Jon Grunseth's campaign for governor. After becoming engulfed in a scandal, Grunseth dropped out of the race just weeks before the general election. After Pawlenty himself became governor, he appointed Grunseth's ex-wife, Vicky Tigwell, to the board of the Minneapolis−Saint Paul International Airport, which was called out as an ethics and accountability issue in 2003.{{cite news|url=http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2003/07/16_mccalluml_ethics/|title=DFLer slams "Grunseth groupies"|author=Laura McCallum|publisher=Minnesota Public Radio|date=July 16, 2003}}{{cite press release|url=http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/caucus/dem/MemberNews/2004/dist65/20030721_Pappas_Paw_Disclosure.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040919185210/http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/caucus/dem/MemberNews/2004/dist65/20030721_Pappas_Paw_Disclosure.htm|archive-date=September 19, 2004|title=Legislators Call for Full and Complete Disclosure from Governor Pawlenty|publisher=MN State Legislature press release (via Internet Archive)|author=State Senator Sandra L. Pappas|date=July 21, 2003}}

Pawlenty was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1992, winning 49.1% of the vote in District 38B (suburban Dakota County). In the House, he authored bills instituting term limits for committee chairmen, funding for infant parenting classes, minimum sentences for repeat domestic violence offenders, and community notification for sex offenders. In response to a state budget surplus, he advocated reducing taxes rather than increasing education funding.{{cite news |title=38B candidates' ideas differ on surplus, education; incumbent faces unusual challenge |work=St. Paul Pioneer Press |date=October 16, 1998 |author=Sherman, Amy}} He was reelected four times and was chosen House Majority Leader when Republicans gained the majority in the State Legislature in 1998.{{cite web|title=Legislators Past and Present|publisher=Minnesota Legislative Reference Library|url=http://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail.asp?ID=10512|access-date=August 23, 2007}}

{{Main|2002 Minnesota gubernatorial election}}

In 2002, Pawlenty wanted to run for governor, but party leaders made it clear they favored businessman Brian Sullivan.{{cite web|url=http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200206/12_mccalluml_sullivan/|title=Campaign 2002 profile: Brian Sullivan|author=Laura McCallum|publisher=Minnesota Public Radio|date=June 12, 2002}} Pawlenty then decided on the U.S. Senate, but abandoned those plans when Vice President Dick Cheney asked him to step aside and allow former St. Paul mayor Norm Coleman to challenge Senator Paul Wellstone without Republican primary opposition.{{cite news|author=Smith, Dane |title=Cheney advises Pawlenty not to run for Senate; Majority leader bows to request from White House |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-73416464.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104013658/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-73416464.html|archive-date=November 4, 2012|newspaper=Star Tribune |date=April 19, 2001|access-date=April 27, 2008}} Pawlenty returned to his original ambition and won a hard-fought and narrow race against Sullivan in the Republican primary.{{cite web|url=http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200209/13_mccalluml_pawlentyprofile/|title=Tim Pawlenty|author=Laura McCallum|publisher=Minnesota Public Radio|date=September 13, 2002}}

In the general election, Pawlenty faced two strong opponents. His main rival was veteran Democratic–Farmer–Labor (DFL) state senator Roger Moe. Former Democratic Congressman Tim Penny ran on the Independence Party ticket (incumbent governor Jesse Ventura, a member of the Independence Party, chose not to seek reelection). Until mid-October 2002, all three were essentially tied in the polls.{{cite news |title=Pawlenty elected Minnesota governor—Republican breaks out of three-way race |work=Grand Forks Herald |date=November 6, 2002 |author=Grant, Ashley |agency=Associated Press |page=A-05}} Pawlenty's major campaign stances included a pledge not to raise taxes to balance the state's budget deficit (while allowing increases in license and user fees); that visa expiration dates be required to be printed on driver's licenses; that women seeking an abortion be required to wait 24 hours; enactment of a concealed carry gun law; and reform of the state's education requirements.{{cite news |title=Your guide to the 2003 legislature: issues to watch |work=St. Paul Pioneer Press |date=January 5, 2003 |page=A8 |author=Coleman, Toni|display-authors=etal}}
{{cite news |title=Major Minnesota issues |work=Grand Forks Herald |date=January 5, 2003 |page=A-07 |agency=Associated Press}} He won the election with 43.8% of the vote. His largest gains after the tied polling were reportedly among voters in the suburbs of Minneapolis–St. Paul.

{{Main|2006 Minnesota gubernatorial election}}

Pawlenty ran for reelection in 2006.{{cite news|author=Hohmann, James|title=Once a goalie, Tim Pawlenty plays offense|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1110/45624_Page2.html|publisher=Capitol News|work=Politico|access-date=April 20, 2011}} Conservatives criticized him on funding issues, in particular two pieces of legislation for stadiums for the Gophers and Minnesota Twins, and bond issues for public transit, including the Northstar commuter rail line.{{cite web|url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/06/02/pawlentyendorse/|title=Pawlenty accepts Republican endorsement for re-election|author=Laura McCallum|publisher=Minnesota Public Radio|date=June 2, 2006}}

The race included Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch, of the DFL; Peter Hutchinson of the Independence Party; and Ken Pentel of the Green Party. Pawlenty won, defeating Hatch by less than one percent, though both the state House and Senate gained DFL majorities.{{cite web|url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/11/07/mngov/|title=Hatch concedes; Pawlenty barely wins re-election|author=Laura McCallum|publisher=Minnesota Public Radio|date=November 8, 2006}}

Pawlenty was elected in 2002 on a platform of balancing the state's budget without raising taxes. He emphasized his campaign and first term with the Taxpayers League of Minnesota slogan "no new taxes".{{cite news|url=http://www.citypages.com/2005-01-19/news/minnesota-eats-itself/|title=Minnesota Eats Itself Another Pawlenty budget, another round of bloodletting|author=Britt Robson|date=January 19, 2005|newspaper=City Pages|access-date=August 31, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924103101/http://www.citypages.com/2005-01-19/news/minnesota-eats-itself/|archive-date=September 24, 2008|df=mdy-all}} His governorship was characterized by a historically low rate of spending growth. According to the Minnesota Management and Budget Department, general-fund expenditures from 2004 to 2011 increased an average of 3.5% per two-year term, compared to an average of 21.1% from 1960 to 2003 (these numbers are not inflation-adjusted).{{cite web |url=http://www.mmb.state.mn.us/doc/budget/report-spend/mar11.pdf |title=Historical expenditures: General fund and all funds |publisher=Minnesota Management and Budget Department |date=March 2011}}{{cite web |url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/apr/01/tim-pawlenty/tim-pawlenty-said-he-brought-minnesota-state-spend/ |title=Tim Pawlenty said he brought Minnesota state spending growth down 'to about 1.7 percent per year.' |work=PolitiFact.com |publisher=St. Petersburg Times |date=April 1, 2011}}{{cite web |url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/polinaut/archive/2011/01/poligraph_pawle_4.shtml |title=PoliGraph: Pawlenty spending claim lacks context |work=MPR News |publisher=Minnesota Public Radio |date=January 27, 2011}} University of Minnesota political science professor Larry Jacobs said that slowing state spending and opposing tax increases were Pawlenty's signature issues.{{cite magazine|last=Sharpiro|first=Walter|title=The Tragedy of Tim Pawlenty: He Did Everything Right. And That's The Problem|url=http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/91908/tim-pawlenty-governor-presidential-candicacy|magazine=The New Republic|access-date=July 27, 2011}}

In his first year as governor, Pawlenty inherited a projected two-year budget deficit of $4.3 billion, the largest in Minnesota's history. After a contentious budget session with a Democrat-controlled Senate, he signed a package of fee increases, spending reductions, and government reorganization that eliminated the deficit. It reduced the rate of funding increases for state services, including transportation, social services, and welfare, and enacted a perennial proposal to restructure city aid based on immediate need rather than historical factors. Pawlenty agreed to several compromises, abandoning a public employee wage freeze and property tax restrictions.{{cite news |title=Pawlenty wins, but risks attached – his no-new-taxes pledge may become a liability later |work=St. Paul Pioneer Press |date=June 1, 2003 |author=Salisbury, Bill}}

During his second term, Pawlenty erased a $2.7-billion deficit by cutting spending, shifting payments, and using one-time federal stimulus money. His final budget (2010–11) was the state's first two-year period since 1960 in which net government expenditures decreased. Pawlenty has claimed this as "the first time in 150 years" that spending was cut, but fact-checkers disputed this claim as no public budget records before 1960 are known to exist.{{cite web |url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/apr/12/tim-pawlenty/tim-pawlenty-said-2009-we-cut-state-spending-real-/ |title=Tim Pawlenty said in 2009, 'we cut state spending in real terms for the first time in 150 years' |work=PolitiFact.com |publisher=St. Petersburg Times |date=April 12, 2011}}

Some criticized Pawlenty for providing a short-term budget solution but coming up short in his long-term strategy as governor. The state department of Management and Budget reported that the two-year budget starting in July 2011 was projected to come up $4.4 billion short.{{cite news|author=Scheck, Tom|title=Pawlenty downplaying budget deficit predictions|url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/09/23/pawlenty-economy/|date=September 24, 2009|publisher=Minnesota Public Radio|access-date=September 24, 2009}} Former Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson, a Republican, criticized Pawlenty's budget strategy: he borrowed more than $1 billion from the tobacco settlement (money set aside for health care), more than $1.4 billion from K-12 education funding, and more than $400 millionAEI said "billion", an error see original: {{cite news|author=Carlson, Arne|date=May 23, 2011|title=The Presidency: A Bit Short Is Pawlenty|url=http://govarnecarlson.blogspot.com/2011_05_01_archive.html|publisher=Blogspot|access-date=May 23, 2011}} from the Health Care Access Fund for low-income families, among other short-term shifts in accounting. The result was a $5-billion deficit, the seventh largest in the United States.{{cite news|author=Ornstein, Norman J.|date=May 25, 2011|title=GOP Presidential Candidates Affect Agenda|url=http://www.aei.org/article/103648|publisher=American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research|access-date=May 25, 2011}} Minnesota property taxes rose $2.5 billion, more than the previous 16 years combined, and Moody's lowered the state's bond rating.{{cite news|author=Wyler, Grace|title=Tim Pawlenty Launches Campaign As The GOP Default Candidate|date=May 23, 2011|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/tim-pawlenty-launches-campaign-as-the-gop-default-candidate-2011-5|work=Business Insider|access-date=May 25, 2011}} Carlson told Time, "I don't think any governor has left behind a worse financial mess than [Pawlenty] has." Pawlenty responded, "My friend governor Arne Carlson is, of course, now an Obama and John Kerry supporter."{{cite news|author=Stephanopoulos, George|title=George's Bottom Line|url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/george/2011/05/tim-pawlenty-jumps-in-im-running-for-president.html|date=May 23, 2011|work=ABC News|access-date=June 9, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526024007/http://blogs.abcnews.com/george/2011/05/tim-pawlenty-jumps-in-im-running-for-president.html|archive-date=May 26, 2011|df=mdy-all}}

File:HistoricMNsupreme.JPG chamber at the Minnesota State Capitol]]

While Pawlenty said he was "confident" in his right to use unallotment, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled against him, 4 to 3, in a May 2010 decision.{{cite web|author=Black, Eric|date=May 5, 2010|url=http://www.minnpost.com/ericblack/2010/05/05/17930/bulletin_supreme_court_overrules_pawlenty_on_unallotments|title=Supreme Court overrules Pawlenty on unallotments|publisher=MinnPost|access-date=May 5, 2010}} His budget had been the subject of a lawsuit in Ramsey County District Court, which was decided against him. Judge Kathleen Gearin ruled that Pawlenty had exceeded his constitutional authority in making unilateral spending cuts to a $5.3-million special dietary program that he had unalloted.{{cite news|author=Scheck, Tom|title=Lawsuit challenges Pawlenty's budget cuts|url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/10/29/lawsuit-pawlenty-cuts/|date=October 29, 2009|publisher=Minnesota Public Radio|access-date=October 30, 2009}}{{cite news|author=Grow, Doug|title=Unallotment ruling may have turned Minnesota's recent political gridlock into new political chaos|date=December 31, 2009|publisher=MinnPost| url= http://www.minnpost.com/stories/2009/12/31/14601/unallotment_ruling_may_have_turned_minnesotas_recent_political_gridlock_into_new_political_chaos| access-date=December 31, 2009}} Attorney David Lillehaug said initially, "This is, I don't think it's understating this to say, this is one of the most important court cases in Minnesota legal history."{{cite AV media|people=David Lillehaug and Mike McIntee|title=Atty David Lillehaug: Court ruling huge political setback for Gov. Pawlenty|url=http://www.minnpost.com/minnclips/2009/12/30/14597/atty_david_lillehaug_court_ruling_huge_political_setback_for_gov_pawlenty|time=1:22|date=December 30, 2009|publisher=The UpTake via MinnPost|access-date=December 31, 2009}} Pawlenty announced the following day that he would appeal;{{cite AV media|author=McIntee, Mike|title= Pawlenty To Appeal Unallotment Ruling|url=http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2010/01/01/pawlenty-appeal-court-ruling|time=1:30|date=December 31, 2009|publisher=The UpTake via Twin Cities Daily Planet|access-date=December 31, 2009}} he filed his brief in February,{{cite news|author=Shaw, Charley|title=Pawlenty in appellate brief says he legally unalloted the budget|url=http://politicsinminnesota.com/2010/02/pawlenty-in-appelate-brief-says-that-he-legally-unalloted-the-budget/|date=February 9, 2010|publisher=Politics in Minnesota|access-date=February 9, 2010}} and arguments were heard on March 15.{{cite news|author=Helgeson, Baird|title=Pawlenty defends budget cuts|url=http://www.startribune.com/politics/83884682.html|date=February 9, 2010|newspaper=Star Tribune|access-date=January 13, 2012}}{{cite news|author=Scheck, Tom|title=State's budget in hands of Supreme Court|url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/03/15/pawlenty-cut/|publisher=Minnesota Public Radio|date=March 15, 2010|access-date=March 15, 2010}} In May, the Supreme Court affirmed Gearin's ruling, writing, "Because the legislative and executive branches never enacted a balanced budget for the 2010–2011 biennium, use of the unallotment power to address the unresolved deficit exceeded the authority granted to the executive branch by the statute."{{cite web|author=Magnuson, Eric J. |date=May 5, 2010 |url=http://www.mncourts.gov/opinions/sc/current/OPA100064-0505.pdf |title=State of Minnesota in Supreme Court: A10-64 |publisher=Minnesota Judicial Branch |access-date=May 5, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100505193339/http://www.mncourts.gov/opinions/sc/current/OPA100064-0505.pdf |archive-date=May 5, 2010 }} Pawlenty responded:{{cite web|author=Kimball, Joe|date=May 5, 2010|url=http://www.minnpost.com/politicalagenda/2010/05/05/17938/pawlenty_responds_to_ruling_on_unallotment_urges_legislature_to_back_his_cuts|title=Pawlenty responds to ruling on unallotment, urges Legislature to back his cuts|publisher=MinnPost|access-date=May 5, 2010}}

I will fight to reduce spending and taxes in Minnesota and that battle continues. My commitment to the people of Minnesota remains the same: we will balance the budget without raising taxes.

After the ruling, as the 2010 legislative session drew to a close, Pawlenty vetoed a budget that would have fixed a $2.9-billion deficit by adding a new tax bracket for six-figure incomes. In response to the proposal, he criticized Democrats for attempting to raise taxes during an extremely difficult economic situation.{{cite news |title=Budget clock is ticking at the Capitol—After veto, talks deadlock and DFL calls on Pawlenty to take the lead |work=St. Paul Pioneer Press |date=May 12, 2010 |author=Salisbury, Bill}} Eventually, due in part to the efforts of House Speaker Margaret Kelliher, who was running for the 2010 Democratic nomination for governor of Minnesota, the legislature passed legislation approving nearly all the original unallotments.{{cite news |title=Now on the trail, loaded with legislative baggage—Kelliher bears the weight of her position, while Emmer's burdens are largely of his own making |work=St. Paul Pioneer Press |date=May 23, 2010 |author=Sturdevant, Lori}}

Since the Minnesota Constitution prohibits state-run gambling outside of Native territory, Pawlenty proposed negotiating with Minnesota's 11 tribes over profit-sharing of their casinos.{{cite web|url=http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2004/02/05_khoom_sosgambling/|title=Pawlenty's speech puts focus on gambling|author=Michael Khoo|publisher=Minnesota Public Radio|date=February 5, 2004}} Legislators also pushed a proposal to turn Canterbury Park horse track into a racino.{{cite web|url=http://www.hometownsource.com/capitol/2003/april/3racino.html|title=Canterbury racino legislation advances in House; Pawlenty cool to more gambling|author=T.W. Budig|publisher=ECM Capitol Roundup|date=April 3, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030510214537/http://www.hometownsource.com/capitol/2003/April/3racino.html|archive-date=May 10, 2003}} The plan was poorly received by Northern Tribes who would operate part of the racino, citing reluctance to compete with other tribes.{{cite web|url=http://media.www.universitychronicle.com/media/storage/paper231/news/2005/05/02/News/Some-Angered.At.Racino.Proposal-945975.shtml|title=Some angered at racino proposal|author=Becky Glander|date=February 5, 2005 |publisher=University Chronicle |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301033757/http://media.www.universitychronicle.com/media/storage/paper231/news/2005/05/02/News/Some-Angered.At.Racino.Proposal-945975.shtml |archive-date=March 1, 2009}} Tribes with casinos opposed the expanded gambling and some legislators objected on moral grounds that the state shouldn't exploit problem gamblers. Politicians in heavy tribal areas feared losing campaign-finance sources if they supported the plan.{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2003/03/10/story2.html?jst=s_cn_hl|title=Canterbury chasing jackpot with 'racino'|date=March 7, 2003|publisher=Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal|author=Andrew Tellijohn}}{{cite web|title=Indian Country is in the midst of political awakening|url=http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2004/10/29_robertsont_rezturnout/|access-date=December 3, 2007|date=October 11, 2004}} Delays by the Legislature ended with the bill being pulled from committee.{{cite web|url=http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2005/05/17_khoom_gambling/|title=Casino issue is dying, if not dead, at Capitol|author=Michael Khoo|publisher=Minnesota Public Radio|date=May 17, 2005}} Tribes spent millions lobbying legislatures in 2004.{{cite web|title=Native American casinos|url=http://www.indianz.com/News/2005/008330.asp|access-date=September 26, 2007 |date=May 23, 2005 |publisher=Indianz}}

Pawlenty worked throughout 2006 to fund a Minnesota Twins baseball stadium in Minneapolis.{{cite web|url=http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2006/01/11_ap_stadium/|title=Pawlenty's talks on Twins stadium yield no action|date=January 11, 2006|publisher=Associated Press/MPR}} The resulting Minnesota Twins-Hennepin County ballpark bill called for an increased county sales tax, which passed the state legislature and was symbolically signed in at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.{{cite AV media|url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/05/26/midmorning2/|title=Twins ballpark: What's next?|date= May 26, 2006}}{{cite web|url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/projects/ongoing/votetracker/issue_view.php?id=52|title=Votetracker Minnesota Twins stadium|year=2006|publisher=Minnesota Public Radio}} The majority of Hennepin County commissioners did not feel a referendum was necessary to approve the sales tax because of the delay it would cause. Pawlenty and the legislature agreed, citing 10 years of debate, and exempted the county from state law requiring one in the bill.{{cite web|url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/05/22/stadium/|title=Twins' stadium opponents were tired of the fight; supporters weren't|author1=Tom Scheck |author2=Brandt Williams |publisher=Minnesota Public Radio|date=May 22, 2006}}{{cite web|url=http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2005/04/25_williamsb_twins/

|title=Pohlad: Contribution to Twins ballpark 'fair, substantial'|author=Brandt Williams|publisher=Minnesota Public Radio|date=April 25, 2005}}

In June 2006, Pawlenty signed a $999.9-million public works bill that included funding for additional work on the Northstar Commuter rail line (a change in position from reservations about the idea he initially expressed), an expanded Faribault prison, a bioscience building at the University of Minnesota, and science facilities at Minnesota State University in Mankato. The bill also funded a $26-million expansion of the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management.{{cite news|url=http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/news/local/14634807.htm |title=Legislature passes $1 billion public works bill |date=June 2006 |work=St. Paul Pioneer Press |access-date=June 26, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312094428/http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/news/local/14634807.htm |archive-date=March 12, 2007 }}

In 2011, Pawlenty shut down an Islamic finance program that was part of a larger program to increase home ownership in Minnesota. His spokesperson said the program accommodated the Muslim ban on interest.{{cite news|title=Tim Pawlenty: I shut down Sharia loan program|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tim-pawlenty-i-shut-down-sharia-loan-program/|work=CBS News | first=Brian|last=Montopoli|date=March 25, 2011}} Adam Sorensen from Time questioned whether this was a case of double standards, pointing out New York's kosher food regulations, Blue Laws that prohibit alcohol sales on Sundays, and Pawlenty's own creation of "The Governor's Council On Faith-Based And Community Initiatives".{{cite magazine|title=Is There a Double Standard in Tim Pawlenty's Disavowal of Sharia-Compliant Mortgages?|url=https://swampland.time.com/2011/03/25/is-there-a-double-standard-in-tim-pawlentys-disavowal-of-sharia-compliant-mortgages/|magazine=TIME|date=March 25, 2011}}

In the budget process, Pawlenty made an effort to preserve education funding while cutting other government spending. In 2009, he bolstered education funding with federal stimulus grants. Despite this, education funding fell from $9,700 to $8,400 per student (adjusted for inflation) during his tenure.{{cite web |url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2010/jul/29/mark-dayton/mark-dayton-says-gov-tim-pawlenty-cut-education-sp/ |title=Mark Dayton says Gov. Tim Pawlenty cut education spending |work=PolitiFact.com |publisher=St. Petersburg Times |date=July 29, 2010}} Pawlenty was an advocate of charter schools and was praised by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools for his education policies. In 2010, the organization rated Minnesota #1 in the country for charter school promotion.

Pawlenty oversaw the repeal of the Profile of Learning kindergarten through 12th grade graduation requirements and sought to reinstate them.{{cite news |title='Binge buster'—In two terms as governor, Tim Pawlenty put the brakes on state spending and set Minnesota on a path to fiscal austerity. But critics say he simply kicked budget problems down the road. |work=St. Paul Pioneer Press |date=December 22, 2010 |author=Salisbury, Bill}} Renamed the Minnesota Academic Standards, they were guided by Department of Education commissioner Cheri Pierson Yecke. The bill's first draft raised concern among the education review boards about the amount of content, its age-appropriateness, and a Eurocentric social sciences portion.{{cite web|url=http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2003/10/31_mccalluml_standardsflap/|title=Social studies standards face more heat|author=Laura McCallum|publisher=Minnesota Public Radio|date=October 31, 2003|access-date=August 8, 2008}} Yecke revised and expanded material based on the response.{{cite news|url=http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2003/12/19_mccalluml_newstandards/|title=Yecke unveils second try at social studies, science standards|author=Laura McCallum|publisher=Minnesota Public Radio|date=December 19, 2003|access-date=August 8, 2008}} Both legislative houses passed the Academic Standards bill, but her confirmation as commissioner was rejected by the DFL-majority Minnesota Senate.{{cite web|url=http://www.oah.org/pubs/nl/2004nov/evans-norling.html|title=What Happened in Minnesota?|author=Sara Evans and Lisa Norling|publisher=Organization of American Historians newsletter|date=November 2004|access-date=August 8, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080803235959/http://www.oah.org/pubs/nl/2004nov/evans-norling.html|archive-date=August 3, 2008|df=mdy-all}} She was seen as an outsider coming from Virginia and became unpopular for having pushed the academic reforms during a tight budget session as well as her critical view of Minnesota public schools.{{cite news |last=Pugmire |first=Tim |url=http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2004/05/16_pugmiret_yecke/ |title=Yecke blasts Minnesota's political climate for vote to oust her |access-date=September 26, 2007 |date=May 16, 2004 |publisher=Minnesota Public Radio}} In her confirmation hearing, DFLers also expressed concern over her conservative viewpoints.

In June 2006, Pawlenty proposed the ACHIEVE program for the top 25% of high school graduates.{{cite web|url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/06/27/freetuition/|title=Good grades would mean free college under Pawlenty plan|author=Tim Pugmire|publisher=Minnesota Public Radio|date=June 27, 2006|access-date=August 8, 2008}} The program would pay for tuition for the first 2 years (4 years for selected fields such as science, technology, engineering and math) and would cost the state an estimated $112 million per 2-year cycle. The program was not included in the 2007 higher education bill.{{cite web|url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/05/07/dream/|title=Dream Act dies under threat of Pawlenty veto|author=Art Hughes|publisher=Minnesota Public Radio|date=May 7, 2007|access-date=August 8, 2008}}

Pawlenty used an accounting change called a tax shift to balance the state deficit without raising taxes. School districts statewide unexpectedly lost $58 million in interest and reserve revenue.{{cite news|author=Fitzgerald, John|title=Schools to Pay Millions to Cover Governor's IOU|date=October 1, 2009|url=http://www.mn2020.org/issues-that-matter/education/schools-to-pay-millions-to-cover-governor-s-iou|publisher=Minnesota 2020|access-date=July 2, 2011}}

In 2010, Pawlenty vetoed a bill that the legislature had passed 110 to 20 (HF 3164), calling for Minnesota State Colleges & Universities (MnSCU) to revamp its credit-transferring system within five years to fix "minimal loss of credits for transferring students" who had been losing between 10 and 30 percent of their credits.{{cite news|author=Schumacher, Lawrence|date=May 3, 2010|url=http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2010/05/03/pawlenty-nixes-college-student-credit-transfer-fix|title=Pawlenty nixes college student credit transfer fix|work=Twin Cities Daily Planet|access-date=May 3, 2010}} Pawlenty found it "unnecessary" because MnSCU was fixing its system already "through internal actions and policy changes".

Image:US-DOT-I-35W-Ellison-20070910.jpg speaking at the site of the I-35W Mississippi River Bridge collapse in Minneapolis. He is flanked by Governor Pawlenty on the picture's left. To right: Minneapolis Mayor R. T. Rybak, Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters behind Ellison, U.S. Representative Betty McCollum, and Senator Norm Coleman.]]

During Pawlenty's first term, urban traffic congestion was a significant concern of voters. He appointed his lieutenant governor, Carol Molnau, as transportation commissioner, and the legislature approved the appointment in May 2004.{{cite news|author=Anderson, G. R. Jr.|title=One head finally rolls|url=http://www.minnpost.com/stories/2008/02/28/1040/one_head_finally_rolls|work=MinnPost.com|publisher=MinnPost|date=February 28, 2008|access-date=February 29, 2008}} Molnau attempted to reform the transportation department, Mn/DOT, using concepts such as "design-build". Legislators criticized her performance as transportation commissioner, citing ineffective leadership and management, and removed her from that role in February 2008, a decision Pawlenty said was motivated by partisanship.{{cite news|author=Saulny, Susan|title=Minnesota Transportation Chief Is Out|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/29/us/29bridge.html|work=The New York Times|date=February 29, 2008|access-date=February 29, 2008}}

Pawlenty favored raising fees and imposing toll lanes on roads as the primary means of discouraging excessive traffic. During his term, the carpool lanes of Interstate 394 leading into downtown Minneapolis were converted into high-occupancy toll lanes. Pawlenty used or threatened vetoes in 2005, 2007 and 2008 on legislation funding proposed highway expansion, infrastructure repairs, road maintenance, and mass transit.{{cite web|title=State House approves gas tax hike|publisher=KSTP|year=2007|url=http://www.kstp.com/article/stories/S40345.shtml?cat=89|access-date=August 3, 2007}} The 2008 veto was in spite of Pawlenty's announcement that he would consider reversing his opposition to a state gas-tax increase for funding road and bridge repairs in the wake of the collapse of the I-35W Mississippi River bridge.{{cite news|last=Jackson|first=Henry C.|author2=Mark Scolforo |title=8 Reported Missing in Bridge Collapse|newspaper=Washington Post|date=August 4, 2007|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/04/AR2007080400225.html}}

Pawlenty had opposed the Northstar Commuter Rail as a legislator, but changed his position in 2004, announcing a funding plan to jump-start the project, when the Bush administration determined the rail line was deemed cost-effective and time-saving for commuters.{{cite web|url=http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2004/08/03_mccalluml_northstarmoney/|title=Pawlenty finds money to jumpstart North Star rail line|author=Laura McCallum|publisher=Minnesota Public Radio|date=August 3, 2004}}

In April 2008, during the budget bonding bill signing, Pawlenty used his line-item veto on $70 million for building the Central Corridor light-rail project intended to connect Minneapolis and Saint Paul. In vetoing the expenditure, he did not consult Metro Council head Peter Bell, the project leader.{{cite news|last=Sturdevant|first=Lori|title=Working toward the train in vain|newspaper=Minneapolis Star Tribune|date=April 12, 2008|url=http://www.startribune.com/opinion/17563464.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150409100232/http://www.startribune.com/opinion/17563464.html|archive-date=April 9, 2015|access-date=January 13, 2012}} Pawlenty said he vetoed the bill in order to send a message to the legislature, which had exceeded his initial budget request, that they needed to "stay focused, be fiscally disciplined, set priorities and solve this budget crisis in a fiscally disciplined way."{{cite web|last=Yuen|first=Laura|author2=Tom Scheck |title=Pawlenty delivers a setback to the Central Corridor project|publisher=Minnesota Public Radio|date=April 7, 2008|url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/04/07/vetofollow/|access-date=April 25, 2008}} But he supported the project and had requested the money in the bonding bill he submitted to the legislature. The veto disappointed some of Minnesota's U.S. representatives, including Republican Senator Norm Coleman, who pledged to "raise my voice as strong as I can, as loud as I can. The federal commitment is there."{{cite news|title=Coleman: Disappointed By Gov. Vetoing LRT Money|agency=Associated Press|date=April 10, 2008|url=http://wcco.com/local/coleman.central.corridor.2.696929.html|access-date=April 25, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301084339/http://wcco.com/local/coleman.central.corridor.2.696929.html|archive-date=March 1, 2009}} Pawlenty's veto might have delayed the state's ability to receive federal matching funds for the project, but Bell said the project was not derailed. The Central Corridor funding issue was resolved on May 19, 2008, with the state pledging the original amount for the project after legislators compromised with Pawlenty's budget requests.{{cite web|url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/05/19/central_corridor/|title=Central Corridor planning moves forward|author=Tom Weber|publisher=Minnesota Public Radio|date=May 19, 2008|access-date=January 13, 2012}}

There were Republican state legislators who supported other cuts of the bonding bill, including Doug Magnus, the ranking Republican on the House Transportation Finance Division, who praised Pawlenty's "fiscal responsibility".{{cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/politics/statelocal/17878864.html?page=all&prepage=1&c=y|title=Met Council head is in a political bind|publisher=www.startribune.com|date=April 18, 2008|access-date=January 13, 2012|last=Kaszuba|first=Mike|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402080314/http://www.startribune.com/politics/statelocal/17878864.html?page=all&prepage=1&c=y|archive-date=April 2, 2015|df=mdy-all}} Critics, including Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, called Pawlenty's veto "political gamesmanship", seeing it as retribution for the legislature's override of Pawlenty's veto of a transportation bonding bill. They noted that cuts overwhelmingly targeted Democratic districts, and Democratic stronghold Saint Paul most heavily.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.twincities.com/politics/2008/04/vetoes_not_political.html|title=Vetoes not political? (The Political Animal)|publisher=blogs.twincities.com|access-date=April 25, 2008|last=Salisbury|first=Bill|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080414214644/http://blogs.twincities.com/politics/2008/04/vetoes_not_political.html|archive-date=April 14, 2008|df=mdy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/04/07/bondingveto/|title=MPR: St. Paul officials: What does Pawlenty have against us?|publisher=minnesota.publicradio.org|date=April 7, 2008|access-date=April 25, 2008|last=Scheck|first=Tom}}

Crime in Minnesota was a high-profile political issue during Pawlenty's governorship. When crime rates in Minneapolis spiked up 16% from 2004 to 2005, city officials blamed Pawlenty for large cuts to state aid, which they said restricted public safety resources. He in turn criticized the city for poorly allocating its funding.{{cite news |url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-147471900/crime-jumps-politicos-trade.html |title=When crime jumps, politicos trade blame: experts say one elected official can't do much to raise—or lower—crime rates |author=Stassen-Berger, Rachel E. |work=St. Paul Pioneer Press |date=June 26, 2006 |page=A1}}

Pawlenty made two large efforts to expand penalties for sexual offenders. In response to his first proposal in 2005, the state legislature passed a large package of sentencing reforms. One new instrument was the possibility of a life sentence without parole for serious offenders. Pawlenty expressed disapproval of the courts' reluctance to use this option: only seven people received such a sentence in its first two years of implementation.{{cite news |url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-218654761/pawlenty-time-get-tougher.html |title=Pawlenty: Time to get tougher on sex crimes – Some offenders would get 25 years; others, even more |work=St. Paul Pioneer Press |date=February 10, 2010 |author=Hoppin, Jason |page=A1}} He pushed for even harsher sentences in 2010, increasing the presumptive sentence for first-degree sex offenses from 12 years to 25 and increasing it further for repeat offenders. At the same time he advocated a $90-million expansion of the state's civil commitment program for sexual offenders, maintaining that the increased criminal sentences would keep the commitment program's cost under control. According to the Star Tribune, "A report on Minnesota's sex-offender program delivered to legislators in the final days of the Pawlenty administration was heavily edited by a top political appointee to reflect the former governor's skepticism about the effectiveness of treatment and to delete arguments for expanded community resources for offenders."{{cite news |author=Ludeman, Cal |date=February 7, 2011 |url=http://www.startribune.com/politics/115534414.html?page=all&prepage=1&c=y |title=Details on sex offender program deleted |work=Star Tribune |access-date=January 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402085227/http://www.startribune.com/politics/115534414.html?page=all&prepage=1&c=y |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |df=mdy-all }}

Early in 2006, after issuing a study that estimated the cost of illegal immigration to the state as approximately $188 million, Pawlenty announced a program for changing the way the state dealt with persons who were in the United States illegally. Pawlenty said that the economic benefits of illegal immigration did not justify the illegal behavior.{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/law/jan-june06/immigration_3-22.html|title=Minnesota's Immigration Debate|publisher=Twin Cities Public Broadcasting|author=Jim Lehrer|date=March 22, 2006}} Pawlenty's extensive proposal included the designation of 10 state law enforcement officials as the Minnesota Illegal Immigration Enforcement Team, "trained to question, detain and arrest suspected illegal immigrants" with a focus on "such crimes as human trafficking, identity theft, methamphetamine distribution and terrorism". He rounded out his proposal with tougher penalties for false identification and instituting a fine of up to $5,000 for employers of illegal immigrants. His proposal was challenged by DFL senators who preferred increased legal immigration to punitive action.{{cite news |url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-140480158/illegal-immigration-real-issue.html |title=Illegal immigration a 'real issue': Pawlenty defends crackdown, but not all agree with tactics |work=St. Paul Pioneer Press |date=January 4, 2006 |author=Salisbury, Bill |page=A1}}

Image:USPS-E85 fuel-St Paul-20070127.jpg fuel during the Saint Paul Winter Carnival parade in January 2007]]

Minnesota has mandated a 10% mixture of gasoline and ethanol (gasohol) since 1997. Pawlenty has also lobbied the Governors' Ethanol Coalition to mandate higher ethanol use nationwide.{{cite web|last=McCallum |first=Laura |title=Pawlenty pumps ethanol|publisher=Minnesota Public Radio|date=September 26, 2005|url=http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2005/09/26_mccalluml_ethanol/|access-date=August 6, 2007}}

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, who was the governor of Pennsylvania and the National Governors Association's Democratic vice-chairman. With Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas, Pawlenty was co-chair of the association's energy committee. The effort received "adamant opposition" from governors of oil producing states.

In 2007, Governor Pawlenty signed the Next Generation Energy Act of 2007 into law and, along with six other Midwestern governors, the Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Accord. These directed state agencies to develop a plan to reduce greenhouse gases, and "develop a market-based and multi-sector cap-and-trade mechanism".{{cite web|title=Pawlenty's Political Climate Change|url=http://www.factcheck.org/2011/01/pawlentys-political-climate-change/|work=Fact-Check.org|date=January 20, 2011 }} However, by 2009 Pawlenty had reversed his position and called cap-and-trade "overly bureaucratic" and a potential "disaster". By 2011, Pawlenty's position had changed sufficiently to state "the weight of the evidence is that most of it, maybe all of it, is because of natural causes."{{cite news|last=herb|first=jeremy|title=Remarks highlight Pawlenty's climate shift|url=http://www.startribune.com/politics/statelocal/126811373.html?refer=y|access-date=August 10, 2012|newspaper=minneapolis star tribune|date=August 4, 2011}}

In 2004, Minnesota's Star Tribune newspaper opined that the credibility of Pawlenty's commissioner of health, Dianne Mandernach, suffered when a website posting by the department suggested that abortion might have a role in breast cancer. She also angered many when it was learned she had delayed releasing government research on cancer in miners. In 2007, Mandernach resigned.{{cite news

|last=Powell

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|url=http://www.startribune.com/politics/11760261.html

|access-date=January 12, 2008

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302000944/http://www.startribune.com/politics/11760261.html

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In 2005, Pawlenty asked a U.S. Senate subcommittee to allow his MinnesotaCare health plan to expand and continue allowing state residents and employees to import cheaper Canadian prescription drugs.{{cite news|url=http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2005/02/16_scheckt_drugimports/|title=Measuring the success of Canadian drug imports|author=Tom Scheck|publisher=Minnesota Public Radio|date=February 16, 2005|access-date=September 12, 2008}}

In 2007, Pawlenty signed into law the 2007 Omnibus Health and Human Services Appropriations Bill, which provided funding for the Health Care Transformation Task Force, a panel of health care experts charged with exploring ways to reduce health care spending, improve quality, and ensure that Minnesota develops a universal health care plan by 2011.{{cite news|url=http://www.kff.org/uninsured/upload/State-Health-Reform1.pdf|title=The Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured|publisher=The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation|access-date=March 16, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110204060730/http://www.kff.org/uninsured/upload/State-Health-Reform1.pdf|archive-date=February 4, 2011|df=mdy-all}}

Later in his tenure he used health care funding cuts as a mechanism to balance the state budget. After years of assuring doctors that the state "sick tax" would be used only to fund health welfare programs, in 2009 Pawlenty recommended a 3% cut in physician reimbursements from the state and asked that the sick tax be put instead into the state's general budget.{{cite web |url=http://www.mnmed.org/News/NewsFullStory/tabid/2266/ArticleID/3246/CBModuleId/3348/Default.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904000519/http://www.mnmed.org/News/NewsFullStory/tabid/2266/ArticleID/3246/CBModuleId/3348/Default.aspx |archive-date=September 4, 2012 |title=Pawlenty uses veto power to cut health care |publisher=Mnmed.org |access-date=October 31, 2010 }} Pawlenty used a line-item veto to remove $381 million from health and human services funding, a removal which could lead to 35,000 Minnesotans' losing their General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC) health insurance in 2011.{{cite news|author=Scheck, Tom|title=Pawlenty, lawmakers remain at odds over budget issues|date=May 15, 2009|url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/05/15/lawmakers_assess_impact_of_pawlentys_budget_vetoes/|publisher=Minnesota Public Radio News|access-date=June 2, 2009}} Hennepin County Medical Center—the largest provider of health care to Minnesota's poor and uninsured—closed two clinics, reduced its staff and reduced access to non-emergency services.{{cite news|author=Williams, Chris (Associated Press)|date=November 18, 2009|title=HCMC approves big cuts in 2010 budget|url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/11/18/hcmc-to-adopt-2010-budget-deep-cuts-expected/|publisher=Minnesota Public Radio|access-date=November 19, 2009}} State Senator Linda Berglin wrote a bill that would extend GAMC funding.{{cite news|author=McIntee, Mike |title=Vets To Feel Governor Pawlenty's GAMC Cuts |url=http://theuptake.org/2010/02/09/vets-to-feel-governor-pawlentys-gamc-cuts/ |date=February 9, 2010 |publisher=The Uptake |access-date=February 10, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140806222742/http://theuptake.org/2010/02/09/vets-to-feel-governor-pawlentys-gamc-cuts/ |archive-date=August 6, 2014}}

In 2010, he refused federal health care funds including more than $1 billion to expand the number of Minnesotans covered by Medicaid, $68 million for a high-risk insurance pool, $1 million to help set up an insurance exchange where consumers could shop for health coverage, and $850,000 for teenage pregnancy prevention. Pawlenty accepted a $500,000 abstinence-only sex-education grant that would require $350,000 in matching state money. Pawlenty said, "It doesn't say we have to apply for all of them."{{cite news|title=Pawlenty restricts health money|author1=Marcotty, Josephine |author2=Stassen-Berger, Rachel E. |name-list-style=amp |url=http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/101940198.html|date=September 1, 2010|work=Star Tribune|access-date=January 13, 2012}}

File:Tim Pawlenty kosovo2.jpg troops in Kosovo (April 12, 2008)]]

Pawlenty's first term coincided with the deployment of National Guardsmen from numerous states, connected with the War on Terror and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. During his two terms Pawlenty made trips to Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Kuwait visiting Minnesota troops.

Pawlenty was visited in 2004 by Mexican President Vicente Fox in talks to strengthen trade. Fox announced that his country would open a consulate in Minnesota the next year, removing the need for Mexican residents in the state to travel out of state for identification papers and other materials.{{cite news |title=Fox promises consulate—Mexico president expresses wish to aid countrymen in Minnesota |work=St. Paul Pioneer Press |author1=Ragsdale, Jim |author2=Welbes, John |date=June 19, 2004}} In mid-2006, in response to illegal immigration, Pawlenty sent Minnesota National Guardsmen to the U.S.–Mexico border at the request of the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.[http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/07/05/border/ 200 National Guard members to patrol Mexican border | Minnesota Public Radio News]

Pawlenty took a delegation of nearly 200 Minnesotan business, government, academic and civic leaders on a weeklong trip to China in mid-November 2005. The stated objectives were to provide a forum for companies to acquire market information, assess market potential, evaluate market entry strategies and identify potential business partners, as well as to promote Chinese investment in Minnesota.{{cite news |title=Pawlenty courts Chinese investors – TRADE: Economic ties take a new direction as the Chinese begin looking for places to invest |work=Duluth News-Tribune |date=November 14, 2005 |author=Bjorhus, Jennifer}} Pawlenty also led Minnesota trade delegations to Canada in 2003, Poland and the Czech Republic in 2004,{{cite news |title=Pawlenty's trade mission—Poland and the Czech Republic: Pawlenty praises Poland's 'bright future' |work=Star Tribune |author=Lopez, Patricia |date=June 22, 2004}} India in 2007,{{cite news |author=Smith, Dane |url=http://www.startribune.com/politics/11759441.html |title=Pawlenty plans trade mission to India |work=Star Tribune |date=January 30, 2007 |access-date=January 30, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080608212328/http://www.startribune.com/politics/11759441.html |archive-date=June 8, 2008 |df=mdy-all }} and Israel in 2008.{{cite news |title=Governor will lead trade group to Israel |date=October 18, 2008 |author=Salisbury, Bill |work=St. Paul Pioneer Press}}

Throughout his eight-year tenure, Pawlenty hosted a weekly one-hour radio show on WCCO-AM, a tradition he inherited from his predecessor as governor, Jesse Ventura.{{cite news |url=http://www.startribune.com/politics/107618173.html |title=Gov. Tim Pawlenty: Signing off |author=Von Sternberg, Bob |date=November 13, 2010 |work=Star Tribune |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101120035906/http://www.startribune.com/politics/107618173.html |archive-date=November 20, 2010 |df=mdy-all }} Pawlenty was the chairman of the National Governors Association for the 2007–2008 term.{{cite web |url=http://www.nga.org/cms/home/about/initiatives-of-nga-chairs.html;jsessionid=243F0020D1407B9D0B9711C6CF1B785E |title=Initiatives of NGA chairs |publisher=National Governors Association}} He also served as Chair of the Midwestern Governors Association in 2006.{{cite web|url=http://www.midwesterngovernors.org/pastchairs.htm |title=Past Chairs |publisher=Midwestern Governors Association |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501180704/http://www.midwesterngovernors.org/pastchairs.htm |archive-date=May 1, 2013 |df=mdy }}

Beginning in 2005, Pawlenty was rumored in the press as a potential candidate for president of the United States.{{cite news |author=Ambinder, Marc |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=484788&page=1 |title=Conservatives Say Pawlenty Is Potential Presidential Candidate |work=ABC News |date=February 9, 2005 |author-link=Marc Ambinder}}{{cite news |author=Will, George F. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/22/AR2008022202173.html |title=The Running Mate McCain Needs |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 24, 2008 |page=B07 |author-link=George Will}}{{cite news |author=Martin, Jonathan |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8558.html |title=Steadfast McCain ally sparks veep talk |work=Politico |date=February 17, 2008}} When formally announcing his candidacy for a second term as Governor of Minnesota on May 31, 2006, Pawlenty said, "As to my future, if I run for governor and win, I will serve out my term for four years as governor."{{cite news |url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/05/31/pawlentyannounce/ |title=Gov. Pawlenty announces re-election bid (feature audio) |work=MPR News |publisher=Minnesota Public Radio |date=May 31, 2006}}{{cite news |author=Black, Eric |author2=Tice, D.J. |url=http://politicalblogs.startribune.com/bigquestionblog/?p=594 |title=Pawlenty for veep: Will he or won't he? |work=Star Tribune |date=March 14, 2007 |access-date=April 10, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110824221222/http://politicalblogs.startribune.com/bigquestionblog/?p=594 |archive-date=August 24, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}{{cite news |url=http://wcco.com/video/?id=17337@wcco.dayport.com |title=Pawlenty Announces re-election campaign (video) |work=WCCO-TV |date=May 31, 2006 |access-date=April 10, 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209182223/http://wcco.com/video/?id=17337@wcco.dayport.com |archive-date=February 9, 2013 |df=mdy-all }} On January 15, 2007, after being reelected, Pawlenty said, "I am committed to serving out my term as governor. That's what I am going to do."{{cite news |author=Black, Eric |url=http://www.minnpost.com/ericblack/2008/02/18/916/how_did_veep_talk_go_so_far_without_pawlentys_pledge_coming_up |title=How did veep talk go so far without Pawlenty's pledge coming up? |work=MinnPost |date=February 18, 2008 |access-date=April 10, 2008}}

In 2007, it was announced that Pawlenty would be serving in a lead role for McCain as a national co-chair of his presidential exploratory committee{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.kare11.com/news/article/147412/0/Pawlenty-to-co-chair-McCain-08-exploratory-committee |title=Pawlenty to co-chair McCain '08 exploratory committee |work=KARE |date=January 15, 2007 |access-date=January 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905150715/http://www.kare11.com/news/article/147412/0/Pawlenty-to-co-chair-McCain-08-exploratory-committee |archive-date=September 5, 2012 |df=mdy-all }} which led to Pawlenty's becoming co-chairman of McCain's campaign (along with Phil Gramm and Tom Loeffler).{{cite news|last=Pugmire|first=Tim|title=Presidential campaigns raise volume in Minnesota|work=Minnesota Public Radio|date=January 9, 2008|url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/01/09/minnprez/|access-date=January 10, 2008}} In January 2008, a reporter for the Minneapolis Star Tribune suggested Pawlenty's renewed focus on his proposed immigration reform plans might be politically motivated as counterbalance to McCain's less favorable guest worker program.{{cite news |last=Hopfensperger|first=Jean|title=Is Pawlenty's plan for immigration aimed at a VP slot?|work=Star Tribune|date=January 7, 2008 |orig-date=updated February 5, 2008|url=http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/13510116.html|access-date=July 13, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080127123208/http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/13510116.html |archive-date = January 27, 2008}}

For many weeks, Pawlenty was widely considered to be a leading candidate for the vice-presidential nomination on the Republican ticket with John McCain in the 2008 presidential election.{{cite news|url=http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/08/28/mccain-notify-vp/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081102214647/http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/08/28/mccain-notify-vp/|archive-date=2008-11-02|title=McCain Selects His Running Mate|date=August 28, 2008|publisher=FOXNews.com|access-date=August 28, 2008}}{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/01/tim-pawlenty-mccains-vice_n_116431.html |title=Tim Pawlenty: McCain's Vice President? |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |date=January 8, 2008 |access-date=October 31, 2010}} In a surprise, McCain chose Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/29/palin.republican.vp.candidate/index.html |title=McCain taps Alaska Gov. Palin as vice president pick |work=CNN Politics |publisher=CNN |date=August 29, 2008 |access-date=August 29, 2008}} In the aftermath of the running mate selection, Pawlenty was regarded as a potential contender for the position of Secretary of Transportation in a possible McCain presidency.{{Cite web|date=2008-09-09|title=What would a McCain Cabinet look like?|url=https://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2008/09/what-would-mccain-cabinet-look/|access-date=2022-01-03|website=MinnPost|language=en-US}}

In 2008, Pawlenty expressed support for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). But in 2010, he claimed that he had made those statements solely as a surrogate for presidential nominee McCain and never actually supported the idea himself.{{cite news |url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/politicolive/0111/Pawlenty_I_never_backed_bailout_in_2008.html?showall |date=January 16, 2011 |title=Pawlenty says he never backed bailout in 2008 |work=Politico Live}} On May 23, 2011, Pawlenty formally announced he'd run for the Republican presidential nomination, saying, "politicians are often afraid that if they're too honest, they might lose an election. I'm afraid that in 2012, if we're not honest enough, we may lose our country."

{{main|Tim Pawlenty 2012 presidential campaign}}

In February 2005, ABC News identified him as a potential candidate for president.{{cite news|author=Ambinder, Marc|title=Conservatives Say Pawlenty Is Potential Presidential Candidate|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=484788&page=1|date=February 9, 2005|work=ABC News|access-date=April 3, 2011}} Pawlenty decided not to seek a third consecutive term as governor, and so was not a candidate in the November 2010 gubernatorial election.{{cite news |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/46549.html |work=Politico |title=Tim Pawlenty's regret: No third term |author=Kendra Marr |date=December 17, 2010 |access-date=January 13, 2012}} In July 2009, Public Policy Polling conducted a poll that showed that President Obama was favored to win against Pawlenty in his home state of Minnesota by more than 10 points.{{cite web|title=Obama easily outpolls Pawlenty, Palin|date=July 10, 2009|url=http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/surveys/2009_Archives/PPP_Release_Minnesota_710.pdf|publisher=Public Policy Polling|access-date=May 3, 2010}} In October 2009, a CNN article suggested that Pawlenty was contemplating a 2012 White House bid.{{cite news| url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/10/13/pawlenty-rolls-out-new-health-care-proposals/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091016045323/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/10/13/pawlenty-rolls-out-new-health-care-proposals/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=October 16, 2009 | work=CNN | title=Pawlenty rolls out new health care proposals | access-date=May 25, 2010 | date=October 13, 2009}} Among those advising him in preparation for a potential presidential run was lobbyist and former Congressman Vin Weber.{{cite news |author=Foster, Daniel |date=January 27, 2011 |url=http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/258251/pence-out-republican-presidential-field-open-daniel-foster?page=2 |title=Pence Out, Republican Presidential Field Open |work=National Review}}

In late 2009, Pawlenty began taking steps that many saw as leading to a 2012 presidential bid.{{cite news |author=Jonathan Martin |title= Pawlenty preps 2012 campaign team |work=Politico |date=October 1, 2009 |access-date=June 3, 2010 |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/27785.html}} He visited Iowa in November 2009 and April 2010, making political speeches.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2010/04/17/pawlenty-in-iowa-republican-party-must-unite-to-take-power-from-democrats/ |title=Pawlenty in Iowa: Republican party must unite to take power from Democrats | Des Moines Register Staff Blogs |publisher=Blogs.desmoinesregister.com |date=October 27, 2010 |access-date=October 31, 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110709015804/http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2010/04/17/pawlenty-in-iowa-republican-party-must-unite-to-take-power-from-democrats/ |archive-date=July 9, 2011 |df=mdy-all }} In January 2011, the New York Times reported that "Few Americans, in fact, even know his name."{{cite news |author=Peters, Jeremy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/30/business/media/30blogs.html?ref=politics&pagewanted=all |title=Political Blogs Are Ready to Flood Campaign Trail |work=The New York Times |date=January 29, 2011}} In January 2011, Pawlenty told the College Republicans group at The George Washington University "If I decide to run it would be for president, not vice president."{{cite news|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11014/1117854-473.stm|title=Pawlenty: No VP thoughts this time|author=Kendra Marr|publisher=Politico|date=January 14, 2011|access-date=January 14, 2011}}{{cite news |url=http://www.gwhatchet.com/2011/01/18/tim-pawlenty-if-i-run-it-will-be-for-the-presidency/ |title=Tim Pawlenty: If I run, it will be for the presidency |work=The GW Hatchet |publisher=The George Washington University |date=January 18, 2011 |access-date=January 13, 2012 |author=Davenport, Reid}}

File:Tim Pawlenty by Gage Skidmore.jpg

Pawlenty went on tour for his book Courage to Stand, and as of January 18,{{when|ref is from 2011|date=August 2022}} his book had reached #1,979 on Amazon.com's list of bestsellers.{{cite news|author=Weiner, Jay|title=In campaign-like appearance, Pawlenty shows off 'Courage to Stand' ... and to sit, signing books|url=http://www.minnpost.com/stories/2011/01/18/24967/in_campaign-like_appearance_pawlenty_shows_off_courage_to_stand_and_to_sit_signing_books|date=January 18, 2011|work=MinnPost|access-date=January 18, 2011}} Pawlenty calls himself a social conservative. In his extended interview with Jon Stewart on The Daily Show, he said he thinks United States Social Security and Medicare need to be cut to balance the federal budget.{{cite AV media|title=Exclusive – Tim Pawlenty Extended Interview (Episode #16007)|url=http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-january-12-2011/tim-pawlenty|date=January 12, 2010|publisher=The Daily Show (Comedy Partners)|access-date=January 17, 2011}} Pawlenty believes that state governments should outlaw abortion, except for cases of rape, incest, and to save a woman's life. He thinks the United States Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade wrongly, abortion being a state, not a federal, matter. He opposes same-sex marriage and civil unions, and said on talk radio "... I have been a public supporter of maintaining Don't ask, don't tell and I would support reinstating it as well".Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/aiK5EIjO1uA Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20110119181300/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiK5EIjO1uA Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media|people=Bryan Fischer and Tim Pawlenty|title=AFA's Bryan Fischer Interviews Tim Pawlenty|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiK5EIjO1uA|publisher=YouTube (Google)|access-date=January 17, 2011}}{{cbignore}}

In December 2010, Pawlenty was one of three U.S. governors who publicly declared solidarity with the Christian-right group Family Research Council.{{cite news|author=Duffy, J.P.|title=FRC, Members of Congress, Governors, and Conservative Leaders Release Open Letter Calling for Civil Debate, End to Character Assassination|url=http://www.frc.org/pressrelease/frc-members-of-congress-governors-and-conservative-leaders-release-open-letter-calling-for-civil-debate-end-to-character-assassination|date=December 15, 2010|access-date=January 30, 2011}}

Pawlenty's tour was in Minneapolis, San Francisco and Dallas, and it ended January in Iowa where the Iowa Caucuses were scheduled for February 6, 2012. "That will come up fast," he said, "if I do run." In Minneapolis, speaking to Pat Kessler of WCCO-TV who asked about his feelings regarding a potential run for president by Representative Michele Bachmann, "I have a lot of respect for Michele Bachmann … Whether she runs or not, it's gonna be a big field. There's gonna be five, six, seven, eight people running … Whoever wants to run can run. The more, the merrier."

In a December 2010 column in The Wall Street Journal, Pawlenty argued in favor of the historical benefits of "private sector" labor unions and strongly against "public sector" labor unions, whose collective bargaining rights he would like to see curbed: "The rise of the labor movement in the early 20th century was a triumph for America's working class. In an era of deep economic anxiety, unions stood up for hard-working but vulnerable families, protecting them from physical and economic exploitation." He also criticized modern unions: "The moral case for unions—protecting working families from exploitation—does not apply to public employment... Unionized public employees are making more money, receiving more generous benefits, and enjoying greater job security than the working families forced to pay for it with ever-higher taxes, deficits and debt."{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703766704576009350303578410 |title=Government Unions vs. Taxpayers |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=December 13, 2010 |author=Pawlenty, Tim}}

On March 21, 2011, Pawlenty announced via Facebook that he had formed an exploratory committee in preparation for a potential run for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.{{cite news |last=Marr|first=Kendra |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0311/51671.html |title=Tim Pawlenty forms 2012 presidential exploratory committee |work=Politico |date=March 21, 2011 |access-date=March 21, 2011}}{{cite news |author=Camia, Catalina |date=March 21, 2011 |url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2011/03/tim-pawlenty-2012-presidential-race-republican-/1 |title=Pawlenty launches committee to explore White House bid |work=USA Today |access-date=March 21, 2011}}

On April 12, 2011, Pawlenty said on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight that he was "running for president" and not for vice president, adding that a formal announcement would be given in several weeks.{{cite news|title=Tim Pawlenty to CNN's Piers Morgan: 'I'm running for President,' spokesman walks it back|url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-04-13/news/29445366_1_exploratory-committee-cnn-interview-minnesota-governor|author=Aliyah Shahid|newspaper=Daily News (New York)|date=April 13, 2011|access-date=January 13, 2012}} and in context {{cite AV media|title=Tim Pawlenty Tells Piers Morgan: "I'm Running For President" |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpbBO-uljyk| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719215214/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpbBO-uljyk| archive-date=2013-07-19 |publisher=CNN via PoliticsNewsNews via YouTube (Google)|access-date=April 15, 2011}} On Twitter, his spokesman said CNN took his comments out of context."@CNN report of @TimPawlenty on @piersmorgan is out of context. Obviously, Pawlenty has exploratory committee to run for President. Not VP," wrote Alex Conant, his spokesman, in {{cite news|author=Wallbank, Derek|title=Tim Pawlenty accidentally confirms the obvious, then walks it back|url=http://www.minnpost.com/derekwallbank/2011/04/12/27419/tim_pawlenty_accidentally_confirms_the_obvious_then_walks_it_back|publisher=MinnPost|date=April 12, 2011|access-date=April 15, 2011}}

On May 23, 2011, Pawlenty launched his candidacy for president in a speech in Iowa stating: "I'm going to try something a little unusual in politics. I'm just going to tell the truth."{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/2011-05-23-Truth-needed-in-politics_n.htm |title=Real change is about telling hard truths |work=USA Today |date=May 23, 2011}}{{cite AV media|title=Pawlenty 'betting it all on Iowa' in presidential run|url=http://www.kare11.com/news/article/924119/391/Tim-Pawlenty-announces-presidential-run-|date=May 23, 2011|publisher=Multimedia KARE|work=KARE-TV|access-date=May 23, 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120910235914/http://www.kare11.com/news/article/924119/391/Tim-Pawlenty-announces-presidential-run-|archive-date=September 10, 2012|df=mdy-all}} A YouTube videoArchived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/5i66q1f3M3w Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20110523134219/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5i66q1f3M3w Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media|title=Tim Pawlenty – A Time for Truth (Preview of Monday's Announcement)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5i66q1f3M3w|date=May 22, 2011|publisher=YouTube (Google)|access-date=May 22, 2011}}{{cbignore}} appeared a day before.{{cite news|author=Shear, Michael|title=Pawlenty Announces Candidacy a Day Early|url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/22/pawlenty-announces-candidacy-a-day-early/|date=May 22, 2011|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 22, 2011}} The Wall Street Journal wrote of his candidacy, and the luck he experienced in the GOP's field, that Pawlenty has a "golden chance to become the chief rival to... Mitt Romney".{{cite news|author=Seib, Gerald F.|title=Is America Ready for President TPaw? |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303654804576341131524623852|date=May 23, 2011|publisher=Dow Jones|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=May 23, 2011}}

Pawlenty finished third in the Ames Straw Poll on August 13, 2011,{{cite news|url=http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2011/08/ames-a-strongly.php|title=Bachmann Boom; TPaw Bust?|date=August 13, 2011|access-date=August 14, 2011|work=National Journal|first=Beth|last=Reinhard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025124108/http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2011/08/ames-a-strongly.php|archive-date=October 25, 2011|df=mdy-all}} behind the winner Michele Bachmann and the runner-up Ron Paul. Before the Ames debate, he took a more aggressive stance against Romney, including the coining the term "Obamneycare".{{cite news|title=PolitiFact: Obamacare was patterned after (Mitt Romney's) plan in Massachusetts|url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/aug/12/tim-pawlenty/pawlenty-says-obamacare-patterned-after-romneycare|date=August 12, 2011|access-date=August 9, 2012}} When pressed by John King during CNN's June 13, 2011, debate to address why he used the word, he backed off.{{cite web|author=Lucy Madison |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/will-backing-off-obamneycare-in-gop-debate-hurt-pawlentys-campaign/ |title=Will backing off "Obamneycare" in GOP debate hurt Pawlenty's campaign? |work=CBS News |date=June 14, 2011 |access-date=November 2, 2012}} However, he denied that he backed off.{{cite web|author=Jens Manuel Krogstad |url=http://caucuses.desmoinesregister.com/2011/06/14/pawlenty-decision-to-back-off-obamneycare-criticism-questioned/ |title=Pawlenty decision to back off "Obamneycare" criticism questioned |publisher=Des Moined Register |date=June 14, 2011 |access-date=November 2, 2012}} The following day he announced his decision to withdraw from the presidential race.{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20110814/us-pawlenty-2012/|title=Ex-Minn. Gov. Tim Pawlenty ends White House bid|agency=Associated Press|work=The Huffington Post|date=August 14, 2011|access-date=August 14, 2011|first=Brian|last=Bakst}} On September 12, 2011, Pawlenty announced his endorsement of former Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, as well as his position as national co-chair for Romney's campaign.{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-pawlenty-romney-20110912,0,7681685.story |title=Tim Pawlenty backs former rival Mitt Romney for president |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=2011-09-12 |date=2011-09-12|last=Memoli|first=Michael}} Romney retired over $400,000 of Pawlenty's campaign debt.{{cite news|author1=Parker, Ashley |author2=Barbaro, Michael |name-list-style=amp |title=Caution, Not Flash, as Romney Seeks His No. 2|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/18/us/politics/romney-vice-presidential-search-began-months-ago.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1|date=July 17, 2012|work=The New York Times|access-date=July 18, 2012}}

On September 20, 2012, Pawlenty's advisor Brian McClung announced to Associated Press that Pawlenty would resign as the co-chairman of Mitt Romney's electoral campaign. He was to head the Financial Services Roundtable (FSR), a financial service industry lobby group in Washington, D.C. He would not be running in the 2014 gubernatorial election in Minnesota nor in the state's 2014 senatorial election.[http://www.newsday.com/elections/mitt-romney-loses-tim-pawlenty-as-campaign-co-chair-45-days-before-election-1.4021829 "Mitt Romney loses Tim Pawlenty as campaign co-chair 45 days before election"], newsday.com. He assumed the positions of President & CEO. He replaced Steve Bartlett, a former U.S. Representative from Texas who had held the positions since 1999.[http://www.fsround.org/fsr/about/executive.asp "Roundtable Management"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115085647/http://www.fsround.org/fsr/about/executive.asp |date=November 15, 2012 }}, FSR webpage. Retrieved 2012-11-08.

In November 2012, Pawlenty said that "Republicans and Democrats will have to reconcile their differences on spending and taxes because the 'walls of reality are closing in on them'" relative to the federal government's looming "fiscal cliff". Presenting himself as not from Wall Street or from Washington and, having previously criticized "entrenched financial interests", he said he could "bring a fresh and new voice to those debates". He also "refuted assertions that implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act, legislation enacted roughly 27 months [earlier] in response to the financial crisis, ha[d] been delayed because of lobbying".Orol, Ronald D., [http://www.marketwatch.com/story/pawlenty-walls-of-reality-closing-on-congress-2012-11-07 "Pawlenty: 'Walls of reality' closing on Congress"], MarketWatch, November 7, 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-08.

{{Main|2018 Minnesota gubernatorial election}}

In February 2018, Pawlenty began considering running for a third term as governor of Minnesota and started meeting with Republican donors and advisors.{{cite news |last=Bakst |first=Brian |date=February 1, 2018 |title=Pawlenty signals interest in governor's race, calls donor meeting |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/02/01/pawlenty-donor-meeting-weighs-governors-race |work=Minnesota Public Radio |location=Minneapolis, MN |access-date=February 1, 2018 }}{{cite news |last=Emanuel |first=Mike |date=February 1, 2018 |title=Tim Pawlenty considering another run for governor of Minnesota |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/tim-pawlenty-considering-another-run-for-governor-of-minnesota/ |work=Fox News |location=Washington, DC |access-date=February 1, 2018 }} He announced his candidacy on April 5.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-05/urgent-minnesota-s-pawlenty-seeks-return-to-governor-s-mansion|title=Pawlenty Says He's Running for Minnesota Governor|date=April 5, 2018|work=Bloomberg.com|access-date=April 5, 2018|language=en}} Pawlenty lost the Republican primary to Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson. His campaign was affected by disparaging statements he made about then presidential candidate Donald Trump. Pawlenty eventually declared his support for Trump before running for governor, but said after his defeat that the "Republican party has shifted" and that he was not a "Trump-like politician" in the "era of Trump". He said he was ending his career in politics.{{Cite news|url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/08/tim-pawlenty-loses-comeback-bid-for-minnesota-governor.html|title=Hey, at Least Tim Pawlenty Is Gone|last=Newell|first=Jim|work=Slate Magazine|access-date=2018-08-15|language=en}}

File:Pawlenty100 5987.jpg

Pawlenty and his wife Mary have two daughters, Anna and Mara. Mary was appointed as a judge of the Dakota County District Court in Hastings, Minnesota, in 1994. After he was elected governor in 2002, the family remained at their Eagan home instead of moving into the Governor's residence because his wife was required to live in her judicial district.{{cite web|url=http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200211/06_hughesa_newgov/|title=Pawlenty sets stage for a Capitol revolution|author=Art Hughes|publisher=Minnesota Public Radio|date=November 6, 2002}} In 2007, she left her judicial position to become General Counsel of the National Arbitration Forum, a dispute-resolution company based in Minneapolis.{{cite news|url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/01/04/marypawlenty/|title=Mary Pawlenty leaves bench for new job|date=January 4, 2007|agency=Associated Press|publisher=Minnesota Public radio}} She stayed only briefly before departing for another dispute-resolution company, the Gilbert Mediation Center.{{cite news|url=http://wcco.com/local/mary.pawlenty.first.2.370037.html |title=Minn. First Lady to Join Gilbert Mediation Center |date=September 2007 |agency=Associated Press |publisher=wcco.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080518032320/http://wcco.com/local/mary.pawlenty.first.2.370037.html |archive-date=May 18, 2008 }}

Pawlenty was raised a Roman Catholic. His conversion to Evangelical Protestantism has been attributed to Mary, who is a member of Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie, Minnesota,{{cite web |url=http://www.mnhs.org/people/governors/gov/gov_40.htm |title=Tim (Timothy J.) Pawlenty |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society}} a member congregation of the Minnesota Baptist Conference. In a January 2011 interview, Pawlenty said, "I love and respect and admire the Catholic Church. I still attend Mass once in a while there. The church I now attend is an interdenominational church which has got many former Catholics in it, and so we share the Christian faith and the Bible. I had to reconcile my faith life with my wife so we could have a consistent, integrated family faith life."{{cite news|url=http://www.politicsdaily.com/2011/01/06/tim-pawlenty-talks-to-pd-about-michele-bachmann-michael-steele/ |title=Tim Pawlenty on Michele Bachmann, Michael Steele . . . and Hockey |first=Matt |last=Lewis |date=January 2011 |access-date =May 16, 2011|work=Politics Daily}}

Pawlenty frequently uses (and is called by) the mononym "TPaw" or "T-Paw".{{cite news |url=http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/05/23/6699960-2012-daniels-is-out-t-paw-and-cain-are-in |title=2012: Daniels is out, T-Paw and Cain are in |work=First Read |publisher=MSNBC |date=May 23, 2011 |author1=Todd, Chuck |author2=Murray, Mark |author3=Montanaro, Domenico |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110528064508/http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/05/23/6699960-2012-daniels-is-out-t-paw-and-cain-are-in |archive-date=May 28, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}{{cite news |url=http://blogs.reuters.com/frontrow/2011/05/20/whos-afraid-of-mitt-and-t-paw/ |title=Who's afraid of Mitt and T-Paw... |publisher=Reuters |work=Front Row Washington |date=May 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027164349/http://blogs.reuters.com/frontrow/2011/05/20/whos-afraid-of-mitt-and-t-paw/ |archive-date=October 27, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}{{cite news |url=http://spectator.org/blog/2011/05/23/tpaw-and-tarp-contd# |author=Antle, W. James III |title=TPaw and TARP, Cont'd |work=The American Spectator |date=May 23, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525065430/http://spectator.org/blog/2011/05/23/tpaw-and-tarp-contd |archive-date=May 25, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}

Pawlenty ran the 2004 Twin Cities Marathon, finishing with a time of 3 hours, 57 minutes, and 52 seconds. He was the first sitting governor to run the race.{{cite news |work=Saint Paul Pioneer Press |last=Brothers |first=Bruce |title=GOVERNOR'S RACE GOES TO PAWLENTY - MINNESOTA'S LEADER OVERCOMES BUSY SCHEDULE TO FINISH HIS SECOND MARATHON |date=4 October 2004}}

Pawlenty is generally considered a conservative on the American political spectrum. With regard to his economic record, he has drawn mixed reviews from fiscally conservative interest groups.{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/pawlenty-an-economic-pro-or-crafty-budget-setter/ |title=Pawlenty: An economic pro or crafty budget setter? |agency=Associated Press |publisher=Fox News |date=May 25, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103030931/http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/05/25/pawlenty-economic-pro-crafty-budget-setter |archive-date=November 3, 2012 }} The lobbying group Taxpayers League of Minnesota gave Pawlenty an average approval score of 80% during his years as a state legislator, while the Cato Institute think-tank gave him scores ranging from C to A across his eight years as governor.{{cite web |url=http://www.clubforgrowth.org/assets/files/FINAL-Pawlenty-White-Paper.pdf |publisher=Club for Growth |date=May 24, 2011 |title=2012 Presidential White Paper #2: Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928023122/http://www.clubforgrowth.org/assets/files/FINAL-Pawlenty-White-Paper.pdf |archive-date=September 28, 2011 }} In February 2008, Washington Post columnist Robert Novak wrote that Pawlenty was the most conservative Minnesota governor since Governor Theodore Christianson in the 1920s.{{cite news|author=Novak, Robert|title=How Not to Run for Vice President|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/27/AR2008022703177.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=February 28, 2008|access-date=February 28, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080316212511/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/27/AR2008022703177.html|archive-date=March 16, 2008|url-status=live}} A 2011 white paper by the Club for Growth, analyzing Pawlenty as a presidential candidate, found his political stance difficult to identify. The group praised him for reduced growth in spending and taxation, but found that he "has some simply inexcusable tax hikes in his record" and questioned his support of proposals such as "mandatory vegetable oil in gasoline, cap and trade, and a statewide smoking ban". Chris Edwards, a director at Cato, speculated that Pawlenty's rightward tack in his second term was related to his impending presidential run. In Pawlenty's 2018 Minnesota gubernatorial campaign, he received an A rating from the National Rifle Association of America, supported permit-to-carry laws, and was open to an optional background check for private firearm sales.{{Cite news|url=http://www.startribune.com/where-candidates-for-governor-stand-on-guns/490307801/|title=Where candidates for Minnesota governor stand on guns|work=Minneapolis Star Tribune|access-date=2018-08-09|first=J. Patrick |last=Coolican |date=August 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180808012116/http://www.startribune.com/where-candidates-for-governor-stand-on-guns/490307801/|archive-date=August 8, 2018|url-status=live}}

Pawlenty voted for President Donald Trump and "support[s] most of what's he's doing, nearly all of what he's doing on a policy level." In 2016, Pawlenty had expressed disapproval of Trump's "comments and language and behavior", calling the president "unsound, uninformed, unhinged and unfit" during his campaign. Pawlenty stated that since the election, "he's made a lot of great progress as leader of our country and president of the United States in terms of policy priorities and the outcomes."{{cite news|url=http://www.startribune.com/former-gov-tim-pawlenty-in-first-appearance-as-a-candidate-shows-pluses-minuses/478992103/|title=New candidate Pawlenty says he voted for Trump after calling him 'unfit'|work=Minneapolis Star Tribune|access-date=2018-04-06|date = April 6, 2018 | last = Coolican | first = J. Patrick}}

In April 2009, 46% of Minnesotans approved of Pawlenty, while 40% disapproved.{{cite web |url=http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/surveys/2009_Archives/PPP_Release_MN_416.pdf |title=Klobuchar Approval Rating Highest PPP Has Found in Last Year |publisher=Public Policy Polling |date=April 16, 2009}} Among registered Republicans nationwide in July 2009, 38% had a favorable view of him while 33% didn't, according to a Rasmussen Reports survey.{{cite web|url=http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_presidential_election/palin_at_the_top_and_bottom_for_gop_voters_in_2012 |title=Palin At The Top – And Bottom – for GOP Voters in 2012 – Rasmussen Reports |publisher=Rasmussen Reports |date=July 7, 2009 |access-date=October 31, 2010}} In March 2010, 42% of Minnesotans approved of Pawlenty, while 52% disapproved.{{cite web|title=SurveyUSA News Poll #16315|url=http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=7dc13545-cf92-40d3-a8c8-a5bd54577a8e|publisher=SurveyUSA|date=March 3, 2010 |access-date=June 12, 2011}}

In October 2010, a Rasmussen report showed that Pawlenty had a 49% approval rating among Minnesotans, with 49% disapproving.{{cite web|title=Election 2010: Minnesota Governor|url=http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_governor_elections/minnesota/election_2010_minnesota_governor|publisher=Rasmussen Reports, LLC|access-date=June 12, 2011|date=October 22, 2010}} A March 2011 survey by Gallup stated that Pawlenty began his presidential run with only 41% name recognition in the GOP.{{cite web |url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/146768/pawlenty-begins-race-gop-name-recognition.aspx |title=Pawlenty Begins Race With 41% GOP Name Recognition |publisher=Gallup |date=March 23, 2011}} Also in March 2011, the Public Policy Polling (PPP) agency found that nationwide voters had a net negative view of Pawlenty, with 15% viewing him favorably versus 33% unfavorably.{{cite web |url=http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/2011/03/voters-tepid-toward-obama-but-favor-him.html |title=Voters tepid toward Obama, but favor him over GOP |date=March 16, 2011 |publisher=Public Policy Polling}} In a 2011 PPP poll of registered Minnesota voters conducted from May 27–30, 42% of Minnesotans had a favorable opinion of Pawlenty, while 52% had an unfavorable opinion of him. In the presidential race, President Obama lead Pawlenty by 51% to 43%, suggesting Pawlenty could lose his home state to President Obama were he the 2012 GOP nominee.{{cite web|title=Obama a lock in Minnesota|url=http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_MN_0606.pdf|publisher=Public Policy Polling | date=June 6, 2011|access-date=June 12, 2011}}

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{Commons category|Tim Pawlenty}}

• {{MN-legdb|10512|Tim Pawlenty}}
• {{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart=3834 | fec=P20002556 | congress= }}
• {{C-SPAN|1001538}}
• [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/uniquecandidate.phtml?uc=17973 Campaign contributions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218082141/http://www.followthemoney.org/database/uniquecandidate.phtml?uc=17973 |date=February 18, 2012 }} at Follow the Money (U.S. House)
• [http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/campaign2002/mn_governor.shtml Campaign 2002 – Minnesota Governor] Minnesota Public Radio
• [http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/2006/campaign/governor/pawlenty/ Campaign 2006 – Tim Pawlenty] Minnesota Public Radio

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