May 24, 2007 8:13 pm US/Central
Pawlenty Gives The OK For State Poet
by Pat Kessler
(WCCO)
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The governor vetoed the poet bill once -- mocking it as an activity that might lead to a state interpretive dancer or a state mime.
After opposing a bill to create a Minnesota State Poet, Gov. Tim Pawlenty now says "write on."
The official state poet doesn't cost anything -- it's an honorary position.
"The poet laureate would work with the humanities commission, literacy organizations and really talk about the role of literature, the arts, letters, poetry in our daily life and our intellectual life," said Sen. Scott Dibble.
In the capitol building, where poetry are literature are displayed everywhere, a lot of people wondered why there ever was any opposition.
The governor vetoed the poet bill once -- mocking it as an activity that might lead to a state interpretive dancer or a state mime.
However, he's had a change of heart and now said he'll go along with it.
"I believe the legislature has expressed their strong preference for a poet laureate in Minnesota and I'm going to defer to that preference," said Pawlenty.
Some suggestions for the honor include singer Bob Dylan and the southern Minnesota writer and poet Bill Holm.
WCCO wants to know who you think should be the first Poet Laureate of Minnesota, just send your suggestion
here.
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