Gov. Pawlenty takes action against ObamaCare

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) is taking action against the new federal health care law and using his power as the state's executive to limit the law's scope in Minnesota.  CNN reports:

The possible contender for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination issued an executive order Tuesday that directs Minnesota state agencies and departments not seek federal grants under the health care measure, which was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama this spring.

Pawlenty told reporters earlier Tuesday that the new law, which was a top priority for the White House and congressional Democrats, is a "misguided piece of legislation," and added that "anything that I can do to slow down, limit or negate Obamacare, I'm going to try to do it within reason."

The Democratic National Committee was quick to condemn Pawlenty's move:

"After rejecting $7.8 billion dollars for his cash-strapped state where taxpayers are struggling to make ends meet and denying health care to a quarter million of his fellow Minnesotans, Tim Pawlenty's executive order to state employees might as well have read 'You will henceforth work for my Presidential ambitions instead of the people of Minnesota,'" said DNC National Press Secretary Hari Sevugan, in a statement.

Meanwhile, opinion polls show that Gov. Pawlenty is on the side of those "cash-strapped taxpayers" in opposing the federal law.