KWN: Many Independent or Centrist voters regard a track record of implementing innovative policy solutions as a requisite of successful, modern governance. The conservative grassroots, of course, look for candidates who promise to closely adhere to our principles of reducing the size and influence of government when deciding whom to support. How does a successful Republican juggle these seemingly mutually exclusive demands?

Gov. Tim Pawlenty: Well, I think that the role and idea of a limited and effective government is consistent with the founding principles of our country, it’s consistent with good public policy and it’s consistent with what our country needs, particularly now. So, I don’t think being innovative and being conservative are in contrast--in contradiction.

So, for example, one of the main issues right now is jobs and the economy. And the conservatives would suggest that the best way we can grow jobs and stimulate the economy is to reduce burdens on the private sector and not add burdens to the private sector; to do things to encourage entrepreneurs and businesses to grow, not discourage them, so, when you see, for example, Republican proposals to shrink government or reduce taxes, that would lighten the load on the private sector, whereas you see the Democrat and liberal proposals to increase taxes or to extend government-run health care or to have cap and trade or to have card check, those are the things that would all burden the economy or an example of things that would burden the economy the other way so I think you can be certainly both conservative and innovative and empowering individuals in the private sector in a way that is pro-growth and pro-opportunity without having government have to do that.

KWN: President Obama has called on Republicans to share their ideas regarding health care reform. How do we improve access, hold down costs, and still preserve the quality of our health care system?

Gov. Tim Pawlenty: Well, we can make it more affordable, for one, and by making it more affordable, more people would have access to health care and of course Republicans, including me, have put many ideas on the table ranging from things like medical malpractice reform, and allowing people to buy insurance across state lines and bring more choice and more competition, to switching how we pay for health care from paying for fines and procedures performed to paying for better health care outcomes to making sure we have portability of health care since people need to switch from job to job and many other ideas and so making it more affordable will make it more accessible. But the current system is broken, we all can agree on that.

But Republicans and Democrats have a very different view about what would be the appropriate steps to fix that, what would be the most effective steps to fix to that, which is heated in the debate unfolding across the country. 

Read the full interview here