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Tom Scheck

Pawlenty’s gas tax dance

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In the days after the I-35W bridge collapse, Governor Pawlenty said he was willing to accept a gas tax increase. AP, the Star Tribune and the Pi Press had initial stories.

Pawlenty talked about the gas tax several times. When asked how difficult it was to take this new position said: "It wasn't difficult at all" during an August 6th news conference on the subject. He elaborated on it more during an August 7th news conference and said "It needs to be done for the good of the state." Listen here (check it at 32:30).

But now...

Pawlenty said earlier today that he wanted lawmakers to "consider some or all of it to be temporary or some or all of it offset by some tax cuts or relief for low or moderate income people."

In addition to the statement, Pawlenty's campaign manager sent out an e-mail blast this morning to supporters on the topic:

Also, you may have read that the Governor has put a possible gas tax increase on the table. What had not been reported until Saturday's St. Cloud Times is that the Governor has made it clear to legislative leaders that he would like to see this gas tax increase as only temporary and offset by an income tax cut.

Here's why it hadn't been reported: He never put any qualifications on the gas tax increase until now. At one point, Pawlenty said that he talked to the Senate Transportation Chair in June about a tax swap but said it didn't go anywhere. His spokesman even said those discussions cooled on the subject (check this AP story on August 7th).

So what changed between Pawlenty's statement on August 7th ("The gas tax has never been popular but we have needs that have to be addressed") and today? Did he get too far from his base? Is he poll watching?

Discuss....