Gov. Pawlenty will sign primary seat belt, veto medical marijuana
Gov. Tim Pawlenty today (May 19) said he would sign the primary seat belt bill passed by lawmakers yesterday into law.
“I’m going to sign that bill,” said Pawlenty at a Capitol press conference.
Pawlenty said as a lawmaker he supported primary seat belt, which allows a cop to pull over a motorist if they see them driving unbuckled.
Currently, law enforcement cannot do this.
Primary seat belt was a nonpartisan vote for lawmakers; Greater Minnesota lawmakers and some conservatives view it as an unnecessary intrusion of governement. Sen. Ray Vandeveer, R-Forest Lake, repeatedly tried to amend the bill on the Senate floor.
The governor indicated that he would not sign the medical marijuana bill passed by lawmakers yesterday.
Pawlenty explained his family has dealt with cancer, and he is not unmindful of the medical circumstances. But the governor said he stand with law enforcement in opposing the bill.
The governor did not flat out say that he would veto the tax increase bill passed by the DFL-controlled legislature late last night, but he did indicate a quick response.
“It won’t take long,” said Pawlenty.
Pawlenty vetoed the last tax increase bill DFLers sent him.
