Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty said he has tried to maintain civility in his dealings with lawmakers and he acknowledged today that his recent "cheap shots" line pushed that boundary.
Pawlenty was asked by a caller to his weekly radio show to explain why he had his top adviser tell House Majority Leader Tony Sertich: "Cheap shots are cheap, but they're not free."
Pawlenty, a Republican, said he was bothered that Sertich, a Democrat, criticized his involvement in state affairs. But the governor insists there was no retaliatory threat made against the DFL leader's bonding bill projects, which Pawlenty vetoed.
Pawlenty conceded that he occasionally says things he wishes he didn't and that was probably one of them. He said he's made a conscious effort not to "get down and scrap with every legislator over every stupid comment."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
