Pawlenty said it but didn’t mean it.
Gov. Pawlenty said in a news conference today that he did, indeed, tell one of his staff members to direct this comment to DFL House Majority Leader Tony Sertich:
"Cheap Shots are cheap but they aren't free.."
The phone call came after an MPR story in which Sertich said the governor was not engaged in the legislative discussions. Sertich claimed last week that the Republican governor followed through on the threat by vetoing three bonding bill projects last week from Sertich's district. Pawlenty said at the news conference that he was trying to explain the inflammatory comments could hurt their working relationship.
"Well, I think Rep. Sertich is fond of the theater, and he likes to be involved in drama. I think he's over-dramatizing a little bit. We did not connect those comments to any sort of threat regarding legislation or projects. I think that is something that he's taking liberties with."
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A reporter asked whether the staff member made that comment to Sertich.
Pawlenty: "One of my staff members did say that, yes."
Reporter: "Did you tell him to pass that on?"
Pawlenty: "Yes."