Tim Walz in The Associated Press


On Health Care: Shuttered businesses and schools during COVID-19 pandemic

In his first term as governor, Walz faced a Legislature split between a Democratic-led House and a Republican-controlled Senate. But he and lawmakers brokered compromises that made the state's divided government still seem productive.

Bipartisan cooperation became tougher during his second year as he used the governor's emergency power during the COVID-19 pandemic to shutter businesses and close schools. Republicans pushed back and forced out some agency heads. Republicans also remain critical of Walz over what they see as his slow response to sometimes violent unrest that followed the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020.

Things got easier for Walz in his second term, after he defeated Republican Scott Jensen, a physician known nationally as a vaccine skeptic. Democrats gained control of both legislative chambers, clearing the way for a more liberal course in state government, aided by a huge budget surplus.

Source: Associated Press on 2024 Vice Presidential hopefuls Aug 6, 2024

The above quotations are from Columns and news articles distributed by the Associated Press on 2020 races.
Click here for other excerpts from Columns and news articles distributed by the Associated Press on 2020 races.
Click here for other excerpts by Tim Walz.
Click here for a profile of Tim Walz.
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org!
Click for details -- or send donations to:
1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140
E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org
(We rely on your support!)

Page last updated: Nov 03, 2024