Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty gave his State of the State address in St. Cloud on Feb 13. The relatively brief speech acknowledged the disasters befalling Minnesota in the past year and the severe economic challenges that Minnesota will face in 2008: an early onset recession coupled with a possibly ballooning budget deficit. Gov. Pawlenty's tone seemed relatively optimistic given the dire financial outlook. He initiated several new spending outlays: purchasing land around Lake Vermillion for a new state park and creating a new online educational toolbox with "jaw-dropping, eye-popping" graphics imitating the current crop of "state of the art video games". While advocating these new policies Gov. Pawlenty reiterated that the funds for either could not come from new taxes as he drew his tax veto pen to a standing ovation. DFL party leadership held a quick press conference in response. In rebuttal, Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller chided the speech as (long) on inspiration but (short) on substance. Kelliher committed to putting a third bi-partisan transportation bill on the Governor's desk with a parital tax rebate to offset tax increases.