PRESS RELEASE from the Democratic National Committee
July 5, 2011

See below for a fact check of Tim Pawlenty’s new ad running in Iowa…

 

PAWLENTY RHETORIC: “Minnesota gripped by one of the longest transit strikes in history. Why? Because Governor Tim Pawlenty refused to cave into government unions. Result? Pawlenty won.”
 
REALITY: PAWLENTY ONLY “WADED INTO” THE STRIKE AT THE END OF DELIBERATIONS BECAUSE THE BUS DRIVER UNION PRESIDENT REQUESTED HIS INVOLVEMENT
 
“Gov. Tim Pawlenty Waded Into The Details Of The Transit Union's Contract During The Seven-Hour Meeting With Union President Ron Lloyd And Metropolitan Council Chairman Peter Bell” And “Pawlenty Called The Meeting After Lloyd Sent A Letter Requesting His Involvement.” [MPR, 4/8/04]
 
During The Bus Driver Strike, “Gov. Tim Pawlenty Joined The Talks After Negotiators Felt They Were Making Progress Toward A Settlement” And “The Governor Says He Doubts Getting Involved Earlier Would Have Ended The Strike Sooner.” [MPR, 4/13/04]
 
·         Pawlenty: "I Think I Added Some Value To The Process And The Discussion. But It Really Was More Of Finishing The Job Than Fundamentally Changing The Dynamics.” [MPR, 4/13/04]
 
 
PAWLENTY RHETORIC: “Minnesota government shut down. Why? Because Tim Pawlenty would not accept Democrats' massive tax-and-spending demands. Result? Pawlenty won.”
 
REALITY: PAWLENTY WAS HOLDING OUT FOR A TAX INCREASE DURING MINNESOTA’S GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
 
Minnesota Public Radio Fact Check: Pawlenty “Leaves The Impression” That The 2005 Government Shutdown Was A Result Of His Desire To Cut Spending, But “What He Doesn't Say, However, Is That To The Extent The Shutdown Continued As Long As It Did, It Was Because The Former Governor Was Holding Out For A Tax Increase On Cigarettes And An Expansion Of State Gambling.” [Minnesota Public Radio, Bob Collins’ News Cut, 1/12/11]
 
·         Pawlenty “Presided Over A Partial Government Shutdown And Finally Proposed To Raise Revenue On Cigarettes Through What He Called A Health-Impact Fee.” [Star Tribune, 5/19/09]
 
Minnesota Public Radio Fact Check: Pawlenty “Created The Illusion” That He Was “Holding Out” But “Then House Speaker Steve Sviggum Acknowledged At The Time, That It Was Pawlenty Who Wanted To Get A Deal Done Quickly.” [Minnesota Public Radio, Bob Collins’ News Cut, 1/12/11]
 
·         During The Shutdown, “Pawlenty Called On Lawmakers To End The Gridlock” Saying, “We Need To Bring This To Conclusion. I Wished It Would Have Concluded Long Ago… We Are Trying To Redouble Our Efforts To Get The Negotiations Moving Forward And To Bring The Partial Government Shutdown To An End.” [MPR, 7/7/05]
 
REALITY: MINNESOTA LOST MILLIONS, AND THOUSANDS OF STATE WORKERS LOST WAGES DURING THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
 
“Minnesota's Government Shutdown And The Legislature's Special Session Have Cost More Than $12 Million.” [Duluth News Tribune, 7/12/05]
 
“The Biggest Losers In The Shutdown Were The State Employees -- About One-Fifth Of The State Workforce -- Who Lost About One Week’s Wages” Which Amounted To 8,883 Workers. [St. Paul Pioneer Press, 7/10/05]