Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty announced today that he will not seek a third term.

“I am incredibly grateful for the support and trust the people of Minnesota have given me during my two terms as Governor,” Governor Pawlenty said. “From providing the best support programs in the country for veterans and their families, to moving Minnesota out of the top ten highest taxed states, to sparking economic development in Greater Minnesota, to strengthening our K-12 education standards and implementing performance pay for teachers, much has been accomplished for our state.”

Governor Pawlenty said being governor should not be a permanent position for anyone.

“When it comes to how long someone should stay in an elected position, a little less is better than too much,” Governor Pawlenty said. “It’s a lesson I learned spending time in places like the Croatian Hall in South Saint Paul, where there is inevitably less joy and more trouble in too much pizza or too much beer. We don’t have term limits in Minnesota, but we do have good judgment and common sense. We are a government of laws and ideas, not personalities.”

Governor Pawlenty noted that during the past six and a half years, his administration has continued to improve Minnesota’s quality of life. The state ranks:

• 1st in the region in annual per capita income (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis)
  
• 1st in the county in Fortune 500 companies per capita (2009 Fortune 500 list, U.S. Census)
  
• 1st in the nation in average ACT test scores (2008 ACT, Inc.)
  
• “Healthiest state in the nation” according to the CQ Press study Health Care State Rankings 2008: Health Care Across America

Accomplishments during the past six and a half years include:

• Proposing and creating the nation’s most comprehensive programs for veterans, military members and their families, including enhancing state G.I. Bill benefits, funding a memorial to Minnesota’s World War II veterans, beginning the Military and Veterans Support Cabinet, and starting the LinkVet program to connect veterans with assistance.
  
• Keeping Minnesota competitive by requiring state government to live within its means and not raise taxes, especially during this period of economic uncertainty.
  
• Balancing the state budget four times without raising taxes, including eliminating a $4.5 billion deficit in 2003 and a $4.8 billion deficit in 2009.
  
• Moving Minnesota out of the top ten highest taxed states, according to U.S. Census Bureau data, a goal of every Governor from all three political parties dating back to Governor Rudy Perpich.
  
• Signing into law nearly $800 million in total tax reductions and a three-year local property tax cap, projected to save taxpayers $78.5 million in 2009 and $460.5 million over the next three years.
  
• Reducing state government growth to average two-year budget increases of less than six percent during the past six years, the lowest budget increases under any Minnesota Governor in at least the past 40 years.
  
• Developing the nation-leading teacher performance pay reform, Q Comp, which links teacher compensation to classroom and student achievement, rather than just seniority.
  
• Creating the Minnesota Academic Standards – new, more rigorous high school graduation requirements.
  
• Establishing Minnesota as the Renewable Fuels Capital of the United States by doubling the amount of renewable fuel used in gasoline, implementing the use of biodiesel and enhancing Minnesota’s role as a top wind energy producing state.
  
• Proposing and signing into law Minnesota’s nation-leading 25 x 25 renewable energy standard, establishing a benchmark of 25 percent of energy from renewable sources by 2025.
  
• Creating the Job Opportunity Building Zone (JOBZ) program to stimulate economic activity in Greater Minnesota. JOBZ has been involved in 323 deals, resulting in commitments of 5,169 jobs, helping to retain 9,743 jobs and producing more than $580 million in new capital investments.
  
• Proposing and establishing a new higher education institution in Rochester, the University of Minnesota-Rochester, with an emphasis on medicine, business and technology.
  
• Reorganizing and consolidating state government agencies including eliminating Minnesota Planning by combining it with the Department of Administration, merging the Departments of Economic Security and Trade and Economic Development, and merging the Department of Employee Relations into the Departments of Finance and Administration, reducing overhead and saving taxpayer resources.
  
• Proposing and signing into law longer sentences for all categories of sex offenders, including life in prison without release.
  
• Implementing health care payment reform based on incentives to improve quality, reduce costs, engage consumers in decision making and encourage more competition – expected to have the potential for approximately $6.9 billion in cost savings by 2015.

Governor Pawlenty also told Minnesotans that he continues to be honored and humbled by the opportunity to serve and will work energetically during his remaining 19 months in office.

“I’ve run a few marathons and I believe in finishing strong,” Governor Pawlenty said. “Minnesotans will get my very best until I’m done.”

Governor Pawenty is serving his second term as the 39th governor of Minnesota. During his time in office, he has served as Chair of the National Governors Association, Chair of the Midwestern Governors Association, and on the National Infrastructure Advisory Council, the Achieve Inc. Board of Directors and the James B. Hunt Jr. Institute Board of Directors. He is currently Chair of the Education Commission of the States.

Click to view 2003-2009 Pawlenty Administration Accomplishments Highlights

Click to view 2003-'09 Pawlenty Administration Accomplishments (23 pages)

Click to view 2009 Pawlenty Administration Accomplishments

Click to view "Minnesota Leads" (document showing state's rankings)