Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty may win Tea Party praise for opposing the budget deal brokered last week, but he won't make any friends in the House Speaker's office.

Pawlenty issued a statement Wednesday slamming the deal between President Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker John Boehner that cut $38.5 billion from the 2011 budget.

"The more we learn about the budget deal the worse it looks," Pawlenty said. "When you consider that the federal deficit in February alone was over $222 billion, to have actual cuts less than the $38 billion originally advertised is just not serious. The fact that billions of dollars advertised as cuts were not scheduled to be spent in any case makes this budget wholly unacceptable."

"It's no surprise that President Obama and Senator Reid forced this budget," Pawlenty continued, "but it should be rejected."

Pawlenty's opposition to the budget deal puts him on the same right flank as Rep. Michele Bachmann, who had indicated she will vote against it. Minnesota's other three congressional Republicans are expected to back the deal, which will be voted on Thursday.

While Pawlenty referred to Obama and Reid, not Boehner, the speaker is just as tied to the budget deal.

"The speaker has always honored President Reagan's '11th Commandment,'" Boehner spokesman Michael Steel said in response to a question about Pawlenty's statement, according to the New York Times.

Reagan's 11th Commandment? "Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican."