MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has a busy year ahead with the state legislature back in session, clashing with new federal policies ordered by President Trump and mulling over whether to run for a third term.
WCCO’s Esme Murphy talks with Walz about those subjects and more live at the WCCO studio on Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
Working with the Minnesota legislature
On Tuesday, Walz visited a St. Paul community center to urge families to claim the child tax credit. Minnesota became the first state in the nation to pass legislation on a child tax credit of this scale in 2023, which aims to cut child poverty by a third.
When WCCO asked Walz Tuesday if he was concerned the recent disorder at the Minnesota Capitol could endanger the tax credit program, he took aim at state Republicans.
“We just said the state of Minnesota had one of the biggest tax cuts in our history, half a billion dollars a year tax cuts, and there’s no enthusiasm from Republicans there because we gave the tax cut to the wrong people apparently,” Walz said. “They’re enthusiastic about tax cuts at the highest income bracket, people making over $200,000 a year, that there’s bills in there to do that and I’m sure there’ll be bills to undermine this.”
In December, Walz said he pledged to work with Republicans to pass the next budget. Forecasters say the state is spending more money than revenues it’s taking in, which could lead to a $5 billion deficit.
On Sunday, Walz called his budget “very conservative” but said he thinks it “keeps Minnesota in the strong position it’s in.”
“It does make us make some hard decisions down the road, but that’s what we’re elected to do,” Walz said. “I feel very confident, as far as bonding — things like the Rapidan Dam, roads, bridges, water treatment plant, keeping up the University of Minnesota — those things are really popular amongst the public. So I do think we get it done, and we’re in a solid financial position.”
Walz said that despite a delay while House Democrats boycotted the legislative session, he is still confident everything will get done in time and a special session will not be necessary.
Will Gov. Walz run for a third term as governor?
With $1 million in his campaign treasury, Walz still would not confirm if he is running for a third term in the state’s top office. He says his decision depends, in part, on his approval rating, which a recent poll shows is at 55%.
“I think right now, we’ll get through this legislative session and I think if you see numbers like this, and you see the public being there, and I feel like I’m able to do the job, I think I would look at it,” Walz said. “I continue to tell people I will do — if the people of Minnesota think it’s the best for them — I’d be honored to continue to serve.”
Walz also praised Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan for her work as second-in-command but would be joining him if he were to run for a third term.
“Lt. Gov. Flanagan has been a voice for children. She has been a voice to make sure our communities are represented. She’s been a voice on looking to make sure our tribal communities are listened to,” Walz said. “I think she — she and I together — have been highly successful, and when we get to that bridge, we’ll cross it.”
Concerns about DOGE, Elon Musk
Walz has recently taken to social media to express his concern regarding Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), tweeting earlier this week, “Elon Musk is a terrible president.”
Walz continues to raise concerns as DOGE faces multiple lawsuits, including one from Minnesota’s attorney general.
“I’m not opposed to just because ideologically they see things differently. I’m opposed because they’re stomping on the Constitution,” Walz said. “Article One, for example, as a member of Congress, as I was, they’re the appropriators. They give you, as the executive, the orders and your job is to carry these things out. That’s not what they’re doing.”
Walz says courts have had to step in due to inaction on the part of Republicans in Congress. He expressed doubt about whether Mr. Trump and Musk will follow a temporary restraining order from a federal judge blocking access to Treasury Department records containing sensitive personal data.
“Sending in six 20-somethings to have access to the Social Security system by the richest man in the world who is not elected by anyone — that should be deeply concerning, whether you agree with his politics or not. It sets a precedence that we’ve never seen,” Walz said.
DOGE, which isn’t an official government agency, was tasked by Mr. Trump to produce recommendations on trimming federal outlays, with billionaires Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy saying they aimed to cut about $500 billion in annual expenditures.
Banning transgender military service members is “demonization”
Walz says the state Attorney General Keith Ellison will look at Mr. Trump’s executive order that could ban transgender service members from the military.
The order also states that identifying as a gender that is “inconsistent” with one’s biological sex “conflicts with a soldier’s commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle, even in one’s personal life” and that those doing so “cannot satisfy the rigorous standards necessary for military service.”
The order directs the Pentagon to determine a policy for transgender service members based on readiness within 30 days.
“These are Americans who volunteered, who did their time, many of them highly decorated,” Walz said. “I simply know when I served, I did not care about your gender, and I certainly did not care about your politics if you were doing your job.”
Despite a new CBS News poll that shows 70% of Americans think Mr. Trump’s actions are fulfillments of his campaign promises, Walz criticized the president for not keeping them and instead targeting a minority group.
“I just don’t understand the demonization of a very small slice of the public,” Walz said. “What does that have to do with reducing the cost of eggs? What does that have to do with reducing the cost of gasoline? What does that have to do with improving educational scores?”
Walz added that they will fight the order in court if they need to, but need more time to analyze the matter.
Walz won’t enforce Trump Administration’s immigration policies
Another one of the president’s orders includes the immediate deportation of undocumented immigrants and a shutdown of the southern border.
A CBS News poll shows that 59% of those surveyed support Mr. Trump’s deportation policies.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison last week issued an opinion that Minnesota counties could not hold detainees for ICE without a criminal warrant. Walz said he expects state and county agencies to abide by that order.
“We have no responsibility and we have no authority over immigration policies. Those are federal, there’s a separation of powers. We simply adhere to the things that are lawful,” Walz said.
Walz’s views put Minnesota in the crosshairs of Mr. Trump’s crackdown. The president has threatened to cut off funding to states that don’t follow his directions. Walz says that won’t hold up in court.
Aimee Picchi and
contributed to this report.
