Arne Carlson to Pawlenty: 'Do the job you were elected to do'

The rift between Tim Pawlenty and the last Republican governor before him cracked wide open Tuesday night, as Arne Carlson suggested Pawlenty put his presidential ambitions on hold and "do the job you were elected to do."

Carlson, a two term Republican governor and former state auditor, compared Minnesota's budget outlook to a tsunami. "This is a time as never before in my lifetime when the governor has to be at the helm of the ship fulltime."

Carlson has criticized Pawlenty previously, but never so pointedly in public as he did at a joint appearance in Minneapolis with former Vice President Walter Mondale sponsored by the organization Growth and Justice.

"Frankly it's a criticism that Minnesotans have been dancing around, because nobody wants to offend anyone except privately," said Carlson about Pawlenty's trips out of state.

The former governor, known for his centrist views, also criticized Pawlenty for his "disturbing" unallotment of the state budget earlier this year and for not working harder with the legislature to fill the next budget gap expected to run into the billions of dollars.

"If you don't like negotiating with the legislature you really ought not be governor," said Carlson about Pawlenty, "because they are part of the solution."

In a written statement Brian McClung, Pawlenty's deputy chief of staff, said "Gov. Carlson has said he doesn't consider himself a Republican anymore," and doesn't represent the views of most Republicans.

McClung said "government-subsidized health care programs" started by Carlson are growing at "unsustainable rates and his response is that we should raise taxes in an already highly-taxed state."

Said Pawlenty's spokesperson about the former governor, "Some people apparently don't know when it's time to leave the stage."

Carlson says he's spoken privately with other Republicans who share his concern about Pawlenty's handling of state finances, the difference being, "I'm saying it publicly."

Carlson said he'd by happy to share his concerns directly with Pawlenty, but "he hasn't called me."

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