A quick preview of Tim Pawlenty’s speech before CPAC today:
Just because we followed Greece into democracy, does not mean we need to follow them into bankruptcy.
Of course, the government spenders come with excuses. . . . I know something about the spenders — and I know something about difficult. I’m from the state of McCarthy, Mondale, Humphrey, Wellstone, and now — United States Senator Al Franken.
But we cut government in Minnesota, and if we can do it there, we can do it anywhere. . . .
I drew a line in the sand and said, “Absolutely not.” We’re going to live within our means just like families, just like businesses, just like everybody else.
It wasn’t easy. I set a record for vetoes in my state. Vetoed billions of dollars of tax and spending increases. Had the first government shutdown in Minnesota’s history. Took one of the longest transit strikes in the country’s history to get public-employee benefits under control. And, in the last budget period, I cut spending in real terms for the first time in the history of my state.
Pawlenty is not officially running for president, but is expected to reach a decision sometime in late spring.