Governor Walz makes his case for ‘One Minnesota’

In MSR exclusive interview, the governor explains how budget will tackle racial disparities 

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan first introduced their “One Minnesota” budget in January, which included $8 billion in tax cuts that used up much of the state’s estimated $17.6 billion surplus in both spending and rebate checks to taxpayers. 

   At the time, State Senator Glenn Gruenhagen (R-Glencoe) called the plan ‘absurd.’ “This reckless budgeting is unacceptable,” added the senator.

   Last month, Walz and Flanagan introduced a revised budget that included new investments in public safety, education, and local projects. House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) called the new budget a ‘spending spree.’ In a statement, she added, “This budget is clearly focused on growing government, not giving money back to Minnesotans.”

But the governor and his team are pushing back on the notion that his ‘One Minnesota’ budget is fiscally irresponsible and a ploy to woo voters at election time.

In a sit-down interview last week at the State Capitol, Walz told the MSR that his budget plans, if accepted, will help all Minnesotans, including and especially the Black community.

 “I think first and foremost, with Minnesota being in a situation with a budget surplus, we’ve got the opportunity to tackle some very systemic and historic inequities,” acknowledged the governor, pointing specifically to health issues.  “We saw it during COVID, when the health inequities became more pronounced,” he added.

Nevertheless, Gov. Walz realizes that there are skeptics out there, especially in the Black community. But he’s determined to govern for all.

“I know the Black community is not monolithic,” continued Walz. “And I know that they’re not all in the DFL camp. But I do know the Black community tends to be progressive, tends to be community-focused, tends to raise its voice. I think the community should have high expectations that a lot of those [inequities] are gonna change.”

“We’re being very deliberate,” said Walz, of the proposed budget. “I think the budget [was] very deliberating working with hundreds of community leaders in the Black community, being very clear about where we need to invest.”

Walz points to racial gaps in Minnesota in areas such as homeownership and education. “Making sure that we’re really addressing some of these disparities, childcare and the cost for families. Making sure that we’re cutting taxes for those folks and making childcare more affordable.” Some of the Walz-Flanagan budget proposals include:

• A new child tax credit to give $1,000 per child to lower-income families making less than $50,000.
• Spending $300 million in public safety aid to cities, counties, and tribal governments across the state to help offset local property taxes.
• A new earned sick and safe leave for workers to accrue up to 48 hours a year, if they need to recover from illness, go to doctor’s appointments, or care for a child during school closures.
• Expanding unemployment benefits to hourly school workers.
• Making higher education more accessible with increased funding for state grants.
• Proposed universal background checks for all firearms sales, raising the minimum age for purchasing military-style firearms to 21 years old, and banning high-capacity weapons.
• Creating an Office of Missing and Murdered African American Women to promote the safety and success of Black women and girls. 
• Increasing access to affordable, quality childcare, and increase the capacity and quality of childcare across the state.
• Issuing checks of $1,000 to $2,600 directly to more than 2.5 million Minnesota households.
• Recommending $219 million to reduce taxes on Social Security benefits for over 350,000 Minnesota households.

 “I think of this budget as a very deliberate, thoughtful approach to making the cost of living less expensive, making education, housing, and healthcare more accessible and affordable,” said the governor.

As for his rebate plan, “I’m asking the legislature to send back checks,” said Walz. “They’re not really big on the idea. But I think the community wants to see a little cash in their pockets and they want to be able to spend it the way they want to.

 “We’re going to be building out infrastructure around clean energy,” added Walz.  “We’re going to be building out connectedness in broadband and the Black community needs to be there, and not just to benefit from the finished product, he continued. “They need to be there to make sure that there are entrepreneurs making money and have the opportunity to be a part of that.”

The governor, who was reelected last November for a second term said he wants to be challenged, held to the fire, so to speak, to serve all Minnesotans.

“I appreciate the patience of the community,” stressed Walz.  “It really matters to me. I think what I really appreciate is the sense of friendship, especially coming in as a White guy from Mankato.”  He also appreciates the “real relationships.” 

Over the past few months, the governor and lieutenant governor have been part of a listening tour that began last year, called Mind, Body, and Soul, in which they have been meeting with Black leaders and residents across the state and soliciting feedback on their proposed budget. “People have been willing to tell me the truth,” said Walz. “Because in some of those meetings, I’ve gotten my butt chewed out,” he added.

“I want the community to say, ‘Okay, those things sound good. We know those things need to happen. But where do we go to see if we’re getting those results,’” he continued. “We’re going to do a lot of results-based governing, with dashboards that people can go on and see—here’s how we used the surplus. Here’s where the money went,” he continued, “whether it’s 12 months, 24 months, or 36 months down the road.”

As for accountability, “I think that’s the question that needs to be asked more. That’s the one that we really want to focus on,” he said. “We can’t throw more money at the problem. I want people to see what we are doing to restore the faith in government.”

Along with Walz and Flanagan’s re-election last November, the DFL took control of the state legislature for the first time since 2013-14, when one party controlled Minnesota’s House, Senate and governor’s office—the equivalent of a legislative trifecta.  

He is optimistic that his budget will become reality when the 2023 legislative session concludes in May. Walz quickly pointed out, “I think it will be less difficult” to pass both houses than before. I just hope the community is with us.”