Pawlenty received a B.A. degree in Political Science at the University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts in 1983 and in 1986, he graduated with a law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School.

Regarded as one of the nation's most innovative, energetic, reform-minded and accomplished governors, during his first year as governor, Pawlenty balanced a deficit of $4.3 billion without raising taxes, primarily by reducing the rate of funding increases for state services, including funding for transportation, social services, and welfare.

In fact he has balanced Minnesota's budget three times without raising taxes, despite facing record budget deficits.  Governor Pawlenty's most notable accomplishments include proposing and signing into law significant new benefits for veterans and members of the military; enacting a property tax cap, eliminating the marriage penalty and cutting taxes; toughening the state's education standards; reforming the way teachers are paid through a nation-leading performance pay plan; instituting free-market health care reforms that increase accountability and provide tax credits to encourage the use of health savings accounts.

Here is how Gov. Pawlenty stands on some issues:

He is Pro Life and was appointed pro-life Chief Justice of MN Supreme Court.
He supports market-driven health care reform.
He supports the diversity of energy sources; he supports drilling in ANWR.
He is for the requirement of federal electronic verification for state employment.
He is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment

In a recent Fox News interview when asked about the Republican losses in this past election Pawlenty commented:

"Well, two things. One is the Republicans lost their way. You can't be a party of fiscal discipline and have all these bailouts, have profligate spending in Washington, have corruption, and have the hypocrisy between what our party stands for and the actions particularly in Washington, D.C.
And then, number two,  though, we have to be a conservative party, and we should be. But we have to apply those principles in the context of a changing country."

He went on to say, "The Republican Party is a conservative party. It will remain a conservative party. But the challenge and the opportunity is how do you ply those principles in the context of our time with those groups and others.
That doesn't mean changing your principles or becoming more like Democrats. It's trying to be more effective at convincing Democrats to become Republicans."

Pawlenty has vowed to help rebuild the party and do so in a more pragmatic, newer more diverse, energetic way. We couldn't agree more. We think he is someone to watch, a fresh face in the future of the GOP and its return to conservative values and principles. He also understands that Republicans simply were out-organized by an impressive Obama "machine," in this past election. He said "The Democrats are way ahead of us organizationally and technologically," he said.

Gov. Pawlenty, is on our list of up and coming Conservatives who we believe will change the face of the Republican Party and bring back the conservative values and principles that made the Republican Party so great and which will make it great once more! Join us America to protect your rights, your country, and your money. Comment here and email us at Yourvoice@speaknowamerica.org Help us and be part of bringing our Great country back.

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