Bob CollinsA few political analysts have pointed to a conflict former state Rep. Chris DeLaForest has with his new boss, Gov. Tim Pawlenty. They needn’t bother. DeLaForest, a former state rep who gave up his House seat last year, is Pawlenty’s new director of legislative affairs. He’s also a lobbyist who pushed legislators to pass a medical marijuana bill that Pawlenty is going to veto.
But a glance at the MPR Votetracker (a neat app that I wish we’d kept in service) shows a clearer picture. DeLaForest and Pawlenty are politically joined at the hip.
A look at his votes on major issues during his legislative career reveals that.
FOR
Charging 13 year olds as adults
Preventing local government grants from going to organizations that provide abortions
Requiring voters to show ID
Banning public funding of abortions
Welfare limits for newcomers
Defining marriage as between one man and one woman
A metro-area casino
AGAINST
Embryonic stem cell research
Gas tax
Dedicated outdoors and arts funding
Studying cancer among Iron Range miners
Expanding health care coverage
