Tim Pawlenty on Welfare & PovertyRepublican MN Governor | |
Pawlenty made good on his campaign promise to address poverty. He introduced a "metropolitan poverty reduction bill" to increase jobs and affordable housing throughout the Twin Cities in both urban and suburban areas. The proposal included development of low-income housing in the wealthier suburbs; various tax credits and business incentives to spur job creation; an "Express to Success Transit System" for low-income city residents working in the suburbs; and a program to help move people from welfare to work. The bill was side-tracked when Democrats introduced a far more extreme proposal that ultimately was vetoed.