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Hot Dish Politics: TPaw's Freedom First PAC needs disclosure first

Last update: November 28, 2009 - 6:20 PM

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Gov. Tim Pawlenty has gotten off to an awkward start with the federal agency that regulates campaign finance as he explores a run for president.

Pawlenty recently created the Freedom First political action committee to raise money for GOP candidates and for trips that boost his political profile.

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) says Freedom First has been unclear on whether it is tied to another political committee. That's significant because if Freedom First were affiliated with another committee, they would share campaign spending limits. Freedom First initially told the FEC it was unaffiliated, but on an amended form did not respond when asked whether it was so connected.

The FEC notified Freedom First on Nov. 12 that the agency seeks "information essential to full public disclosure of your federal election campaign finances."

"Failure to adequately respond," the agency said, "could result in an audit or enforcement action."

Freedom First treasurer Don Stiles said last week that the committee is not affiliated with another political organization and any lack of disclosure was an oversight and will be corrected.

He said the PAC had amended its filing to add information on an unrelated subject.

PAT DOYLE

Short-timer's syndrome?

At a Minnesota Pardon Board meeting recently, Tim Pawlenty made clear that he's got his short time left in office on his mind.

Throughout the meeting, the governor, who announced this spring that he wouldn't run for a third term, referenced his limited remaining tenure.

He told one petitioner that he couldn't give advice on whether to reapply for pardon another time because, Pawlenty said, he won't be around for that much longer.

After the board denied a pardon for a charge of robbery with a gun, Pawlenty said the board tends not to grant forgiveness for such charges. An audience member asked him if that would ever change.

Looking at Supreme Court Chief Justice Eric Magnuson on his left and Attorney General Lori Swanson on his right, he noted: "This board turns over from time to time." Pawlenty has 13 months left to serve.

RACHEL E. STASSEN-BERGER

TPaw to test Swamp Thang

Political strategists have theorized that the Republican Party, stinging from electoral defeats around the country, could become a party primarily of the South. At the very least, a Republican with presidential aspirations had better do well there.

Perhaps that explains why Tim Pawlenty, who is testing out a run for president, planned to dabble in Southern cooking over the holiday weekend.

"I got a new cookbook and I am going try out a recipe called Swamp Thang," Pawlenty said, feigning a Southern drawl that drew chuckles from those attending a Tuesday news conference. "I happened upon this woman at the Mall of America selling this cookbook. It's a Southern-style cookbook. So I'll give it a whirl."

The governor did not elaborate on the ingredients for "Swamp Thang," a term associated with numerous Southern specialties.

In one cookbook, "B. Smith Cooks Southern Style," author Barbara Smith includes a recipe for Swamp Thang that features sautéed shrimp, scallops and crawfish in a Dijon sauce piled over Southern greens.

In Ruskin, Fla., Swamp Thang is a mixture of herbs and spices that can be used in everything from grilling to snack mixes.

But be careful, governor. In more festive Southern circles, Swamp Thang is known as a potent punch that includes Everclear (a brand of 151-proof or 190-proof alcohol), rum, schnapps, sour apple pucker and vodka. Scofflaws sometimes use moonshine in place of the Everclear.

BAIRD HELGESON

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Governor: Tim Pawlenty
One of only a few prominent Republicans to win a competitive re-election contest in the Democratic sweep of 2006, Tim Pawlenty is widely seen as politically shrewd and naturally likable.

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