Medicaid is essentially bankrupt, Medicare is essentially bankrupt, why the heck would we give the federal government another entitlement program to manage?

Pawlenty was the chairman of the National Governors Association for the 2007–2008 term. On April 12 2011 Pawlenty said clearly on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight that he was "running for President" and not for Vice President adding that a formal announcement would be given in several weeks. The budget reduced the rate of funding increases for state services including transportation social services and welfare.

He previously served in the Minnesota House of Representatives (1993–2003) where he was majority leader for two terms. He signed a bill mandating 20% ethanol in gasoline by 2013. His administration advocated for numerous public works projects including work on the Northstar Commuter Rail Line and the construction of Target Field a Major League Baseball stadium in Minneapolis.