Minnesota has a rich Scandinavian heritage, and if Democrats in the state legislature have their way the state is headed toward Scandinavian tax rates. Governor Tim Pawlenty, a likely GOP Presidential candidate, has now smacked this slow, fat pitch out of the ballpark.

Earlier this week Democrats who control both legislative houses passed a three-year $1 billion income tax increase. This would raise the top tax rate to 9.1% from 7.85%, taking the rate even higher than that in New Jersey and New York (outside of Manhattan).

It's been a bad week for Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty. Of course, it's also been a good week for Republican Presidential Contender Tim Pawlenty.

Like every governor, Mr. Pawlenty has been locked in a struggle to make ends meet in the wake of a national economic crisis that has left states, even more than the federal government, strapped for cash, fighting deficits and straining to pay bills.

By Michael Gerson

"A few days ago," Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty relates, "I was having breakfast with my wife, my 91-year-old mother-in-law and daughters, 17 and 13. On TV there was a news report about the financial situation in Greece. Out of the blue, my 13-year-old said, 'This is going to be us pretty soon.' I almost dropped my fork. This is an eighth-grader."...

WASHINGTON -- Healthy state economies will play a critical role in future job creation, but Minnesota does not rank among the nation's top 10 "growth performers," according to a U.S. Chamber of Commerce study rolled out Monday by Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

"It's not surprising at all," the Minnesota Republican said during the report's unveiling in the capital. "It's something I've been talking about for years. Minnesota needs to be more competitive as it relates to jobs."