Tim Pawlenty was elected Governor of Minnesota in 2002, with the state facing an historic $4.5 billion budget deficit. Just months later, the Legislature adopted Pawlenty's plan to eliminate the deficit without raising taxes or cutting funding for K-12 classrooms. In addition to balancing the budget, Governor Pawlenty fought for and passed a dramatic overhaul of the state's education standards, significant welfare reform, lawsuit reform, a range of new government efficiency initiatives, and passed the largest transportation package in modern history.
