About the Game

The game was developed by Alliance for a Better Minnesota to raise awareness about the harmful impacts of political ambition. In Pawlenty Poker, you become the ambitious young Minnesota Governor, Tim Pawlenty, who gambles away the future of your state to become vice president. In this game, you don’t bet your own money but auction off issues to placate the extreme wing of the Republican Party.

But, unfortunately, this sad game has become a reality for many Minnesotans who have had to deal with the politically motivated decisions of Governor Pawlenty. Here are the issues that Governor Pawlenty has used to pander to the Republican base in order to win the vice presidency.

Increase tuition
Governor Pawlenty cut funding to state colleges and universities, which increases tuition for students across the state.

Reduce health care access for Minnesotans
Governor Pawlenty cut funding to the health care access fund, which increases medical expenses for everyone in the state.

Shift the tax burden to local property taxes
Governor Pawlenty cut local government aid funding therefore increasing local property taxes. The average property tax on a Minnesota homestead is expected to increase by 71 percent from 2002 to 2008. Even after adjusting for inflation in the cost of government services, the increase is nearly 30 percent.

Ignore transportation problems
Governor Pawlenty refused to adequately address transportation needs throughout the state which causes business to leave the state.

Veto central corridor
Governor Pawlenty first support the Central Corridor project, but then veto the project for no good reason. Remember you said John Kerry was a flip flopper.

Back track on commitments to the environment
After a column appears “How Not to Run for Vice President” Governor Pawlenty sell out to the “clean coal” faction of the party on important environmental standards.

Watch Minnesota’ economy tank
Since taking office Minnesota’s economy has fallen behind the national average.

Back track on transportation funding
After Minnesota’s transportation system literally starts falling apart Governor Pawlenty agrees to support a gas tax and then placate to the no new tax crowd after they criticize you.

Let roads crumble to worst condition in decades
Governor Pawlenty has let existing roads plunge to their worst condition in decades, according to the state Department of Transportation. The agency's cash balance dwindled from a $155 million surplus in 2002 to a deficit of $60 million before officials were legally required to get back in the black. According to the Star Tribune, tight finances are starting to delay highway construction, even on projects already underway.

Keep Toxic Toys on the Shelves
Governor Pawlenty vetoed a bill that eliminates toxic chemical from children’s toys. Never mind that peer reviewed research shows that exposure to these chemicals is a serious health threat.

Watch class sizes increase
Minnesota class sizes increased from 2000-2004. School districts with fewer than 1,000 students experienced a ratio increase of 10.8 to 13.1 while school districts with more than 1,000 students increased from 16.2 to 16.8 during that time period.

Let school funding go down
After adjusting for inflation, revenue for Minnesota public schools has dropped 4.4 percent since 2003. Earn the title “Governor Gridlock” - $900 In Governor Pawlenty 2008 State of the State address, you hold up his “veto pen” stating “As you know, I will not hesitate to use it…” And rather than compromise to fix Minnesota’s problems you refuse to talk to legislators and veto an overwhelming number of bills.

Oppose Stem Cell Funding
In an attempt to pander to the extreme elements of the Republican Party, Governor Pawlenty threaten to veto funding for stem cell research. Despite the fact that stems cells have the potential to treat a wider variety of diseases including cancer, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries, and muscle damage, amongst a number of other impairments and conditions.

Veto Minimum Wage
While the gap between rich and poor increases, Governor Pawlenty vetoed a bill that helps out Minnesota’s working families by increasing the minimum wage to $6.15 an hour.

Borrow, borrow, borrow
Governor Pawlenty developed a transportation funding plan would that borrow $1.7 billion over 10 years. Why pay for it today when your kids can pay for it tomorrow.

Who needs schools when you have stadiums
Governor Pawlenty supported spending hundreds of millions of dollars on sports stadium while proposing cuts to education program like early childhood education.