Sad Tale of a GOPer Governor and a Bridge

[mn9driver]

Tim Pawlenty is a Republican hypocrite who has held Minnesota hostage to his "no tax increases" lie for years. Pawlenty has raised plenty of taxes by reducing state taxes on business, thereby forcing local governments to raise property taxes on homeowners---a lot.

In 2005, Pawlenty vetoed a gas tax increase for Minnesota road maintenance and construction:

http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2005/05/19_khoom_gastax/

As a result, a cash-strapped Mndot tried to get Contractors to self-finance road projects; predictably, the Contractors said "F@#* off":

http://www.startribune.com/462/story/497441.html

Pawlenty vetoed a gas tax increase again in 2007:

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/05/15/gastax/

Mndot is still woefully underfunded. I'm sure the plan was to do nothing with this "structurally deficient" bridge until Pawlenty was safely on his way to Washington as a hero of Republican tax policy.

I think his political career went into the river along with all of those poor people.

[Sapere aude]

1. No the recent past has nothing to do with it. The fault lies with the Dems who were elected in 2006

and took office in 2007. They had plenty of time to pass a bill that Bush could sign and get money to fix the bridge. I know because W said so.

[The Doctor.]

14. Right... because as we know, Bush was eager to get such a bill to his desk.

Stupid Dems, when will they start paying attention!

[LeftishBrit]

2. I hope his political career has fallen into the river!

I HATE politicians who cut taxes at the expense of essential services. We had too much of that here with bloody Maggie Thatcher.

Best thoughts to the victims and their families.

[Frosty1]

7. A new stadium was more important than repairing the bridge

3/16/04
by T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter


Gov. Pawlentyís stadium proposal allows host communities to raise local taxes without a referendum ó sales tax, hospitality taxes ó while providing several financing mechanisms for building stadiums.

The governors no-referendum-required stance extends to counties.

Pawlenty released his proposal on Monday (March 15), explaining though the States quality of life is dependent on many things, professional sports is one of them.

He remains troubled by the economics of sports, explained Pawlenty, yet as governor must do what he can to solve the longstanding stadium issue.

It has been a vexing problem and the odor has lingered for years, he said.

"Bottom line, I don't want to lose the Vikings and the Twins on my watch," said Pawlenty.

More:
http://www.hometownsource.com/capitol/2004/march/16stad...
:banghead:

[thunder35]

11. Pohland must have given kickbacks to the person's who approved this stadium.

[entanglement]

13. Bread and circuses n/t

[Deja Q]

19. But Pawlenty was adamant to NOT lose the Twins on HIS watch.

Well, better a significant bridge than a stadium.

Of course, who'll get to the Metrodome now...

So they'll build the new stadium far away from any bridges. Seems fair. And since the only Americans worth a damn are worth $1 Billion or more, getting to the new stadium won't be an issue at all. :crazy:

BTW: A lot of Repubs are pissed at Pawlenty right now. Others pawn more of the blame on to Bush. Other Repubs say government takes money and does nothing and this is another example. But those in the latter category wouldn't have a clue as to how breadcrumbs are made, so don't listen to their bloviating prattle too seriously...

[BOSSHOG]

3. Conservative values, lets go to war, go shopping I'll cut taxes then go on vacation

Hey everybody has health care, just go to an emergency room. Child health care is too expensive but we can pump a billion a week (at least into Iraq.) Got to love those conservative values.

[liberal renegade]

6. more like a billion and a half, every week... n/t

[BOSSHOG]

10. You are right my friend, thanks for the correction

[Supersedeas]

17. lifestyle of the rich, oily, and stupid

[bridgit]

4. "And to the Republic for which it stands."

[Deja Q]

18. "One nation, under God"

Oh dear...

[progressoid]

5. He wanted the contractors to put up the money to build??

:wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf:

The $250 million Twin Cities project was set to start in August but contractors walked away from the unorthodox financing plan, which required them to put up their own money to keep construction going between state payments.

Never before has a major Minnesota road project failed to draw a bid.

Short of cash, the Minnesota Department of Transportation hoped to sell contractors on the cost-shifting scheme as a way to jump start construction before it had all the money.

It planned to pay builders back as federal funds arrived.

Bidders didn't bite.

[Ian David]

8. Other Third-World Countries and Banana Republics don't take care of their infrastructure, either.

Other Third-World Countries and Banana Republics don't take care of their infrastructure, either.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1495367&mesg_id=1495367

[Bitwit1234]

9. Hey you all forgot the 2 M he set aside for the Republican Convention.

Remember he needed security for all the big shot trash pouring into our fair state.

[DinahMoeHum]

12. Looks like the 'Pukes will lose Minnesota in 2008.

But hey, at least gay people can't get married. Right?

:evilfrown:

[truth2power]

15. What an excellent post, mn9driver...short & to the point..

puts it all out there as another example of how the Repukes DON'T CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE!! :banghead: :grr:

[truth2power]

16. Could you answer this, mn9driver?

I hope Pawlenty's political career IS over, but how many people in MN are going to connect the dots on this (your OP)?

Are people in Minnesota generally aware what an asshat he is and will they throw him out next time around?

[mn9driver]

20. "Minnesota Governor Wields Veto to Protect Taxpayers"

In a triumph of astonishingly bad timing, the wingnut Heartland Institute released this congratulatory article about Pawlenty, just three hours before the bridge fell into the river:

http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=21658

My favorite part is near the end:

"...The transportation bill veto is the only one the DFL tried to override. The attempt came with less than 20 minutes remaining in the session and was defeated by House Republicans, led by Minority Leader Marty Seifert (R-Marshall).

"Democrats made too many campaign promises to win their seats and are now learning they can't pay for them," Marshall said after the failed override attempt.

Ultimately, it was the DFL's inability to override any of Pawlenty's vetoes--particularly of the transportation bill--that resulted in a comparatively small $3 billion increase in state spending with no new taxes.

Said Krinkie of the 2007 session, "Minnesotans really need to thank Gov. Pawlenty and Rep. Seifert's House Republicans. These guys stood strong in the face of overwhelming pressure and came through for taxpayers when they really needed them."..."

I think that all Minnesotans should read this article so that they know who to thank, and for what.

[Octafish]

21. Saw plenty of Pawlenty on my television screen last night.

The little turd was most slick, a professional talker.

We had a big turd by the name of John Engler in Michigan who did the same to our state.

Hope We the People will better see through such schmucks in the future.

KR.