MOORHEAD, Minn. (AP) -- Put Governor Tim Pawlenty in the category of reluctant supporter of the Wall Street bailout now being discussed in Washington.
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Pawlenty tells WDAY radio he supports a $700 billion bailout of the financial industry as long as it comes with safeguards for taxpayers.
Pawlenty says the economic slowdown has been tough on Minnesota.
Meanwhile, DFL Senate candidate Al Franken says Congress should not give the Bush administration a "blank check" as it considers a $700 billion plan to bail out the financial industry.
Franken says any plan should include independent oversight by Congress. He also says that taxpayers should get an equity stake in companies that are being bailed out.
Like other Democrats in Congress, Franken says that CEOs of such companies should not receive excessive salaries. And the candidate is calling for a freeze of home foreclosures.
Franken is challenging Senator Norm Coleman, a Minnesota Republican.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
