Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN) made an interesting move in a series of unilaterally-imposed budget cuts, the Star-Tribune reports, by suspending a tax-refund program that partially reimbursed small political donations –Â and, it turns out, was benefitting the state Republicans much more than the Democrats.
The program gave taxpayers a $50 refund if they made a political donation of at least that amount. State records show that donors to Republicans were claiming $2.9 million in these refunds, compared to only $1.1 million in refunds claimed by Democratic donors.
Give Pawlenty some points for consistency. It appears that he isn’t just against public financing of campaigns when it helps the Democrats. He’s against it when it helps Republicans, too.
