Democrats have swiftly fallen for Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s Midwest dad persona, sharing movies of him engaged on a automotive, happening a rollercoaster with daughter Hope on the State Honest, signing a invoice renaming a avenue in Prince’s honor in purple ink. However he’s additionally obtained a protracted file as governor.

Walz’s first time period was largely outlined by the gridlock of divided authorities and disaster administration in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the aftermath of the police homicide of George Floyd.

However as soon as Democrats swept management of state authorities within the 2022 elections with Walz on the prime of the ticket, they handed one of the vital progressive agendas within the nation’s latest historical past with only a single-seat Senate majority.

Walz represented a Republican-leaning district within the U.S. Home and was broadly seen because the extra centrist of the 2 main Democratic candidates for governor, however he’s turn into a champion of progressive coverage as governor. With few exceptions, Walz supported what the Democratic majorities within the state Home and Senate might muster the votes to move.

These payments — starting from defending abortion entry to dashing up vitality allowing to growing protections in opposition to wage theft — have excited the nation’s Democratic base, which is starting to be taught in regards to the trifecta’s work over the previous two years.

Right here’s a have a look at the place Walz stands on the problems, based mostly on the payments he’s signed.

Abortion entry

Among the many first payments Walz signed after Democrats took management of the Legislature was the Shield Reproductive Choices Act, guaranteeing that “each particular person has a basic proper to make autonomous selections in regards to the particular person’s personal reproductive well being.”

The regulation fulfilled a marketing campaign promise that helped Democrats win management of state authorities after the U.S. Supreme Court docket overturned Roe v. Wade, permitting states throughout the South and Midwest to enact draconian restrictions on abortion.

“The message that we’re sending Minnesota right this moment could be very clear: Your rights are protected within the state. You will have the appropriate to make your individual selections about your well being, your loved ones and your life,” Walz mentioned throughout a ceremonial invoice signing in January 2023.

Democrats then handed a “defend regulation” geared toward defending ladies who journey to Minnesota for abortions by prohibiting state courts, regulation enforcement and well being care suppliers from cooperating with authorities exterior the state.

Lastly, Democrats eradicated nearly all restrictions on abortion — a lot of which had already been deemed unconstitutional — together with that abortions after the primary trimester be carried out in a hospital or abortion facility, that each dad and mom of minors be notified and that the state Division of Well being maintain information on abortions.

Schooling

Maybe the preferred invoice Walz signed into regulation gives free college breakfast and lunch to all youngsters at eligible colleges, no matter earnings. The invoice signing at a Minneapolis college created the now-ubiquitous picture of a mob of schoolchildren embracing Walz as he laughs.

The 2023 Legislature additionally boosted Ok-12 schooling spending by $2.3 billion and early childhood schooling by $300 million, though college districts complained a lot of the brand new funding went to cowl new mandates. Amongst these mandates was The Learn Act, which requires college districts to make use of evidence-based practices to show studying. College districts should additionally present free menstrual merchandise to college students.

One of many extra controversial insurance policies Walz signed into regulation banned college law enforcement officials from utilizing susceptible — e.g., face down — restraints on college students, which created a mini political disaster when some police departments pulled their officers from colleges. Walz mentioned he doesn’t assist the usage of face-down holds but additionally signed the invoice repealing the ban.

Walz signed a invoice offering free faculty tuition for College of Minnesota and Minnesota State campuses, for households with earnings of $80,000 or much less.

For Walz, a former instructor, reaching a “Minnesota Miracle 2.0” would outline his legacy as governor. However the state’s above-average achievement has sunk nearer to common throughout his tenure, whereas racial disparities, among the many worst within the nation, have endured. In 2015 the Annie E. Casey Basis ranked the state sixth general within the U.S. on schooling high quality. By 2024 Minnesota had fallen to nineteenth place. Elevated funding for colleges, science-based studying instruction necessities and free common meals will possible take years to yield outcomes.

Walz was criticized by Republicans for preserving colleges shuttered longer than in lots of Republican-led states. The lengthy durations of distant studying broken the tutorial and social/emotional progress of many youngsters, however Walz and his allies mentioned the danger to employees and households was too nice.

A federal program — administered by the state Division of Schooling — designed to feed hungry youngsters when colleges and daycares closed grew to become the supply of a large fraud, with over $250 million gone lacking. The U.S. legal professional has convicted practically two dozen individuals of the 70 who’ve been charged, in what’s the largest pandemic aid fraud within the nation.

Labor

Walz signed into regulation one of the vital pro-worker agendas in state historical past in 2023, together with paid sick depart and a state-run paid household and medical depart program offering as much as 20 weeks of depart in a single yr.

Democrats banned noncompete agreements; banned anti-union captive viewers conferences; expanded unemployment advantages to hourly college staff who’re off in the course of the summer season; made common contractors chargeable for wage theft by their subcontractors; and raised office security requirements at meatpacking crops and Amazon and different huge warehouses. The state additionally established a nation-leading Nursing Residence Workforce Requirements Board with the ability to set wages throughout the business.

Walz has additionally signed huge infrastructure spending packages — often known as “bonding payments” — together with a $2.6 billion package deal in 2023 funding many union building jobs repairing roads, bridges and different vital infrastructure.

Walz broke along with his allies within the labor motion on two vital events that yr, nevertheless. Walz insisted on a carve-out for Mayo Clinic from two payments geared toward growing nurse staffing ranges and slowing the rise of well being care prices, after the well being care large — and largest personal employer within the state — threatened to maneuver billions in future investments out of state. Each payments have been gutted.

The president of the Minnesota Nurses Affiliation, the union advocating for the staffing invoice, known as it a “betrayal.”

Walz additionally issued the one veto of his tenure on a invoice setting minimal pay charges for Uber and Lyft drivers and granting them higher protections from being unfairly deactivated after Uber mentioned it might depart the state. As an alternative, he created a job drive on driver pay and labor requirements, which knowledgeable a invoice he did signal earlier this yr.

Surroundings

One-hundred p.c of Minnesota’s vitality should come from carbon-free sources by 2040 beneath a invoice Walz signed into regulation in early 2023, placing the state on one of the aggressive timelines to shift away from fossil fuels. He additionally signed a invoice to pace up allowing for brand new vitality tasks.

Whereas celebrated by environmentalists on the time, his administration has just lately earned their ire by advocating for the “carbon free” definition to incorporate burning wooden and trash for vitality since these sources will emit carbon dioxide whether or not burned for electrical energy or left to decompose.

Walz additionally moved aggressively to curb greenhouse fuel emissions by making Minnesota the primary state within the Midwest to undertake California’s clear automotive requirements. The requirements, which requires automotive sellers to supply extra hybrid and electrical automobiles, are set to take impact subsequent yr after surviving a prolonged authorized battle. His administration’s adoption of the rule will possible present fodder to the Trump marketing campaign, which known as Walz a “radical leftist” in a press release on Tuesday.

“Walz is obsessive about spreading California’s dangerously liberal agenda far and huge,” Karoline Leavitt, Trump marketing campaign press secretary, mentioned following the announcement of Walz as Harris’ operating mate.

Together with clear automotive requirements, Walz authorised further tax credit to carry down the price of electrical vehicles and e-bikes.

Early in his first time period, Walz continued a authorized problem from his predecessor’s administration to Enbridge’s Line 3 substitute pipeline. Enbridge in the end accomplished the brand new oil pipeline regardless of authorized challenges and protests by some Native tribes and environmental activists — together with exterior the governor’s residence. Walz confronted harsh criticism from these teams for not utilizing govt energy to halt building.

Environmentalists have additionally been disenchanted that Walz hasn’t tried to cease plans for copper-sulfide mining close to the Boundary Waters and within the St. Louis River watershed that feeds into Lake Superior. His administration has defended state permits for PolyMet’s proposed mine close to Babbitt, and allowed Twin Metals to conduct drilling assessments on state land close to the Boundary Waters.

The Biden administration basically put a 20-year moratorium on the Twin Metals proposal, nevertheless, by eradicating 225,000 acres close to the protected wilderness from the federal mining leasing program. These tasks are supported by commerce unions, which has put competing strain on Walz from two essential constituencies.

Well being care

Like many Democratic governors, Walz put in place a stay-at-home order at the start of the pandemic, and later an indoor masks mandate and restrictions on public occasions on the urging of public well being authorities and establishments just like the Mayo Clinic.

Walz enlisted former Gov. Tim Pawlenty, the final Republican to win statewide workplace in Minnesota, in a public present of their COVID-19 vaccination. He required state staff to be vaccinated earlier than they may return to the office.

The pandemic selections have been polarizing and at instances confronted authorized challenges. By the point the worst of the pandemic was over, Minnesota had decrease COVID-19 demise charges than most different states.

Walz spent his first time period beneath divided authorities fruitlessly pushing for growth of MinnesotaCare, Minnesota’s medical insurance program for the working poor. With Democrats in energy, Walz signed a invoice transferring the state towards establishing a public possibility that permits all residents with out employer-subsidized medical insurance to purchase into MinnesotaCare. The earliest that would start is 2027, and lawmakers should nonetheless obtain federal approval and discover a solution to fund the brand new social profit.

Within the first yr of his second time period, Walz signed a invoice to develop public medical insurance entry to the greater than 40,000 undocumented individuals estimated to reside in Minnesota who meet the earnings necessities of MinnesotaCare starting as quickly as subsequent yr.

Walz additionally signed a invoice making Minnesota a refuge for individuals in search of gender-affirming care.

Marijuana

Democrats duped Republicans into legalizing low-dose THC edibles and drinks in 2022, after which got here again for full legalization after taking each chambers within the election that yr. Walz ran on legalization in 2018, so this was a promise saved.

The legalization rollout has been somewhat rocky. Walz’s first selection to guide the Workplace of Hashish Administration was compelled to step apart after media reviews that she had been promoting THC merchandise with extra THC than is legally allowed, had tax liens and unpaid money owed. The administration has nonetheless but to call a everlasting substitute.

The regulation consists of an expungement mechanism to assist individuals clear their data of marijuana convictions. It additionally favors communities hardest hit by prohibition by giving them a head begin on acquiring a license to open a marijuana dispensary.

Retail gross sales are anticipated subsequent spring, MinnPost just lately reported.

Policing and public security

The aftermath of the police homicide of George Floyd in 2020 offered one of many biggest political and governing challenges of Walz’s profession. The widespread destruction of the riots, which adopted many years of police abuses, created an enduring legal responsibility for him. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey blamed Walz for hesitating to name within the Nationwide Guard whereas the town burned, whereas Walz’s workplace mentioned the town didn’t present sufficient detailed info for them to deploy the Nationwide Guard till the afternoon of Might 28 — after three nights of protests and rioting.

Trump, at his rally in St. Cloud, falsely mentioned he saved Minneapolis by calling within the Nationwide Guard, and Republicans have hammered Walz for “permitting” the rioting 4 years in the past.

On the time, Walz additionally confronted strain to rapidly move police reforms by these far to the left of him championing “defund the police,” a slogan that continues to hang-out mainstream Democrats.

Walz did signal a bipartisan invoice in 2020 with policing adjustments, together with a ban on sure chokeholds; a ban on “warrior-style” coaching for law enforcement officials; and, residency incentives for law enforcement officials to reside within the metropolis they patrol.

Later, with management of state authorities, Democrats handed a extra sweeping package deal of adjustments to policing and prison justice broadly.

Walz signed a invoice altering the state’s normal for lethal drive, saying it “shall be exercised judiciously and with respect for human rights and dignity and for the sanctity of each human life.”

Walz additionally signed a invoice banning cops from coming into properties with out knocking first — with restricted exceptions — in response to the 2022 police killing Amir Locke, a younger Black man not suspected of any crime.

He additionally signed off on a large overhaul of the state’s jail system, making it extra rehabilitative and fewer punitive in an effort to cut back recidivism. It consists of earned launch, through which prisoners can get out earlier and shorten their group supervision time after they get out in the event that they take part in rehabilitation packages. Now, prisoners can get out when half their sentence has been served in the event that they full packages and behave nicely; Republicans known as it a “get out of jail free” invoice.

Walz additionally signed laws that limits probation to 5 years for many felonies (apart from homicides and intercourse crimes); made cellphone calls free for prisoners; legalizes possession of drug paraphernalia; made it simpler for individuals to expunge non-violent crimes from their data; made it simpler to get clemency; and banned individuals concerned in hate or extremists teams from being licensed as law enforcement officials.

Whereas governor, the state gave $300 million to cities, counties and tribal governments to spend on regulation enforcement as they see match and invested $70 million in group violence prevention grants for sufferer companies, jail re-entry, homelessness help, restorative justice, violence interruption and juvenile diversion.

Undocumented Minnesotans can now get a driver’s license after Walz signed a invoice in early 2023.

Voting rights

Final yr Walz signed laws restoring voting rights to felons who’re not imprisoned. The regulation was upheld this week within the face of a authorized problem.

The invoice restored the appropriate to vote to over 50,000 Minnesotans who’ve accomplished their sentences however stay on probation or parole. Previous to that, they needed to wait till they have been out from beneath the federal government’s management and had paid their fines and restitution. Given Minnesota’s prolonged probation, that would add as much as years.

Walz additionally signed the Democracy for the Individuals Act, which goals to make casting a poll simpler. The regulation consists of automated voter registration; permits 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote; and creates a everlasting mail voting checklist, which means voters might be routinely despatched a mail poll for each election, with out having to use for one.

Different new election legal guidelines Walz signed embody a requirement that voting directions and pattern ballots be translated into languages apart from English in sure districts; protections for election staff from intimidation or interference; a ban on tampering with voting gear, poll containers and lists of registered voters; and an extension of the appropriate to depart work to be able to vote to the 46 days of early voting.

Taxes

The Legislature handed and Walz signed a 1% gross sales tax enhance within the seven-county Twin Cities metro space, with .75% devoted to transportation and .25% for housing. It was a significant victory for Democrats, who had lengthy sought devoted funding sources for public transportation and inexpensive housing. However the tax hike — handed when the Legislature had a $17.5 billion surplus — drew outrage from Republicans.

Walz additionally signed a invoice tying the state’s fuel tax to inflation — capped at 3% — which was a politically dangerous resolution as customers’ budgets have been battered by excessive fuel costs and excessive inflation.

Along with tax will increase, Walz and his Democratic colleagues exempted Social Safety earnings from taxes for joint filers incomes lower than $100,000 a yr.

In addition they championed tax credit for low-income households, and the state earned the popularity of getting the most equitable tax system within the nation, in keeping with the left-leaning Institute on Taxation and Financial Coverage. Democrats exempted

Walz signed one of many nation’s largest youngster tax credit, which is steeply graduated, granting $1,750 per youngster for low-income Minnesotans. It begins to part out for married filers who make $35,000 yearly and $29,500 for single taxpayers.

Walz additionally signed a invoice increasing the Working Household Credit score, which is the state equal of the federal Earned Revenue Tax Credit score.

The Legislature handed and Walz signed a one-time tax rebate of $260-$1,300, relying on household dimension, in what grew to become colloquially often known as a “Timmy stimmy.”

The previous renters’ tax credit score has turn into an earnings tax credit score, which is predicted to sharply enhance the quantity of people that declare it.

Whilst legislators pushed for a novel tax enhance on companies’ worldwide income, in addition to a fifth earnings tax tier, Walz let these proposals die on the vine.

Gun management

The notion going into the 2018 marketing campaign for governor that Walz was a average was due largely to his place on weapons. He grew up round weapons, was a talented marksman throughout his navy profession, hunts pheasants and had lengthy been endorsed by the NRA.

That modified after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Excessive College bloodbath in Parkland, Florida, which additionally coincided with Walz’s marketing campaign to win the Democratic-Farmer-Labor endorsement that spring.

“The world’s modified. I’ve modified,” he mentioned on the time.

Since then, he signed payments requiring background checks for all personal gun gross sales; permitting a decide to briefly take an individual’s weapons if they’re deemed a menace to themselves or others, e.g., a “pink flag” regulation; and growing the penalty for straw purchases of weapons, as when an individual buys weapons for the categorical function of serving to somebody get a gun when they aren’t legally allowed to. That regulation handed within the wake of the killing of three first responders by a gunman alleged to have used a firearm obtained through a straw buy.

Housing

Minnesota lawmakers elevated the state’s spending on housing about ninefold with a $1 billion spending package deal — paid for with a part of the $17.5 billion surplus in 2023 — to extend inexpensive housing, stop homelessness, develop homeownership alternatives and supply rental help to hundreds of households.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers aimed to extend housing building by overriding native zoning legal guidelines that limit improvement and financial inclusion. Most of these proposals did not get sufficient assist, nevertheless, though Walz did signal a invoice ending an environmental lawsuit in opposition to Minneapolis over its pro-density 2040 plan.

Minnesota Reformer is a part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit information community supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Minnesota Reformer maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor J. Patrick Coolican for questions: [email protected]. Observe Minnesota Reformer on Fb and X.