Received this e-mail today from Rep. Tim Walz’s (D. MN-DFL) gubernatorial campaign:
Friend,
Tim Pawlenty was a bad governor, and he’s not the leader Minnesota needs right now.
When he was running the state, he made decisions that hurt Minnesotans. Those decisions really hit home on the issues of health care, education, and infrastructure.
On these crucial issues, there’s a clear contrast between our vision and TimPawlenty’s record.
Health Care
Our Vision
Health care is a human right, and every Minnesotan deserves to have health coverage. If you have to use your health care, it should be quality, affordable, and close to home. That’s why I support giving every Minnesotan the opportunity to buy into MinnesotaCare, Minnesota’s successful health care program.
Pawlenty’s Record
While Pawlenty was governor of Minnesota, the uninsured rate grew by more than 50%. He also tried to cut health care coverage for children and seniors living on a fixed income -- the most vulnerable among us. Those aren’t Minnesota values.
Education
Our Vision
As a 20-year classroom teacher, I understand the value of fully funding our public schools -- if we don’t, students suffer.
Pawlenty’s Record
When he was governor, Tim Pawlenty cut funding to our schools. I was in the classroom when the cuts came down, and they were devastating. Promising young teachers were laid off. Classroom sizes grew. Invaluable school services were rolled back. These funding cuts had real impacts on Minnesotans.
Infrastructure
Our Vision
Minnesotans move around our state a lot of different ways. One value that most of us share, though, is that we need adequate funding for our infrastructure to keep people moving safely and efficiently.
That’s why I support funding our roads, bridges, and transit. Every Minnesotan deserves the opportunity to have the chance to move around the state as inexpensively and easily as possible.
Pawlenty’s Record
When Pawlenty was governor, Minnesota’s roads and bridges were crumbling, but he turned down funding for infrastructure programs. He also vetoed comprehensive transportation bills that would have gone a long way toward fixing our infrastructure.
Minnesotans are facing a choice about the direction of our state this year, and there are so many new and exciting directions that we can go in together. Let’s just not go backward.
Thanks,
Tim
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