Pawlenty, a Republican, said he will serve out his second term, which ends in January 2011.
“Gov. Pawlenty’s decision not to seek a third term comes as no surprise,” said Ray Waldron, president of the Minnesota AFL-CIO, which represents more than 300,000 union members. “The guy has painted himself into a corner with his arrogant refusal to resolve the state’s budget crisis fairly.
“Since he took office he has given us an unemployment rate over 8 percent with a real unemployment rate closer to 15 percent, a 32 – 40 percent increase in property taxes and he’s taken health care away from 60,000 – 70,000 additional working Minnesotans. And he’ll be doing even more damage to communities with his ‘unallotments’.
“It’s about time for him to leave. And it’s unlikely that he’ll be able to spin this legacy into a presidential nomination.”
This month Pawlenty will unilaterally cut $2.7 billion to balance the state budget. His cuts will devastate hospitals, nursing homes, local governments, and state colleges and universities, union leaders said.
“We’ve had plenty of Pawlenty,” said Eliot Seide, director of AFSCME Council 5, the state’s largest public employee union. “Minnesota needs a governor who understands that we cannot cut our way to greatness.
“While politicians come and go, public employees continue doing Minnesota’s work. We’re committed to taking care of the sick, the elderly and the students who Gov. Pawlenty has left behind.”
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Pawlenty, a Republican, said he will serve out his second term, which ends in January 2011.
“Gov. Pawlenty’s decision not to seek a third term comes as no surprise,” said Ray Waldron, president of the Minnesota AFL-CIO, which represents more than 300,000 union members. “The guy has painted himself into a corner with his arrogant refusal to resolve the state’s budget crisis fairly.
“Since he took office he has given us an unemployment rate over 8 percent with a real unemployment rate closer to 15 percent, a 32 – 40 percent increase in property taxes and he’s taken health care away from 60,000 – 70,000 additional working Minnesotans. And he’ll be doing even more damage to communities with his ‘unallotments’.
“It’s about time for him to leave. And it’s unlikely that he’ll be able to spin this legacy into a presidential nomination.”
This month Pawlenty will unilaterally cut $2.7 billion to balance the state budget. His cuts will devastate hospitals, nursing homes, local governments, and state colleges and universities, union leaders said.
“We’ve had plenty of Pawlenty,” said Eliot Seide, director of AFSCME Council 5, the state’s largest public employee union. “Minnesota needs a governor who understands that we cannot cut our way to greatness.
“While politicians come and go, public employees continue doing Minnesota’s work. We’re committed to taking care of the sick, the elderly and the students who Gov. Pawlenty has left behind.”