Minn. Dems confront Pawlenty on federal-money use

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is attracting fire from Democrats for relying on federal money to patch nearly one-third of his state's budget deficit.

The possible Republican presidential candidate has been vocal about what he sees as overspending in Washington, particularly the federal stimulus package.

His plan to solve Minnesota's $1.2 billion deficit counts on congressional approval of $387 million in Medicaid assistance. Technically, it's not part of the stimulus.

But Democrats say there's no sure bet the money will materialize. And they say Pawlenty is demonstrating ``a slight touch of hypocrisy,' in the words of Democratic Sen. Dick Cohen.

Pawlenty's advisers argue there's a difference between opposing something and getting the state's share when it becomes law.

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