The Gov. Walz Agenda...for Arizona?
What could be enacted at the AZ Legislature
When Tim Walz was elected Governor of Minnesota in 2018, he was stymied by Republican majorities in both chambers of the Legislature. But in 2022, he was reelected with a single-seat majority in the MN Senate and 4-seat majority in the MN House. In Arizona, we are so close to having the power to enact positive change for our state: two seats in the AZ Senate and two seats in the AZ House!
So what did Gov. Walz get passed, and what can we fight for in Arizona?
1. Abortion: One of the first bills Walz signed was the Protect Reproductive Options Act, guaranteeing that "every individual has a fundamental right to make autonomous decisions about the individual's own reproductive health." An additional law prohibited state courts, law enforcement, and health care providers from cooperating with out-of-state authorities trying to punish women for leaving their states for reproductive care. Imagine if our legislators could have passed a bill like this for Gov. Hobbs to sign, instead of collecting 800,000 signatures in the Arizona heat?!
2. School Lunches: Kids in Minnesota--ALL kids--get free school breakfast and lunch. "This bill puts us one step closer to making Minnesota the best state for kids to grow up, and I am grateful to all of the legislators and advocates for making it happen," Walz said.
This measure costs about $200 million annually--a small part of what Arizona siphons from state coffers to pay for private school vouchers.
3. School Funding: The Minnesota Legislature boosted K-12 education spending by $2.3 billion and early childhood education by $300 million. It would take $5.5 billion annually just to bring Arizona to the average per-child state expenditure.
A former teacher, Walz had fought for more school funding from the beginning of his first term, and getting pro-public education majorities in both houses of the state legislature allowed him to get it.
4. Higher Education: Walz signed a bill providing free college tuition for University of Minnesota and Minnesota State branches, for families with income of $80,000 or less.
5. Voting Rights: Felons who are no longer imprisoned can now vote, bringing over 50,000 people into the democratic process that invests them in their communities and state. Walz signed into law automatic voter registration, and the ability for 16- and 17-year olds to pre-register, as well as a permanent mail voting list (in Arizona, this opportunity is no longer permanent, purging those who don't vote regularly). Election workers are now protected from intimidation or interference. A Maricopa County judge recently issued an injunction pausing Arizona’s law against voter intimidation and harassment.
6. Environment: 100% of Minnesota's energy must come from carbon-free sources by 2040 under a bill signed by Walz in 2023 (Vote for clean-energy candidates Aguilar, Polacheck, and Hill for Corporation Commission to make progress in Arizona). Walz also moved aggressively against greenhouse gas emissions by following California's clean car standards. Car dealers must also offer more hybrid and electric vehicles.
7. Health Care: Walz signed a bill to allow all residents without employer-subsidized health insurance to buy into MinnesotaCare, a program for the working poor. Minnesota is also a welcoming state for people seeking gender-affirming care.
8. Labor: Minnesota now has a robust pro-worker program, including paid sick leave and state-run paid family and medical leave that provides up to 20 weeks of leave per year. Non-compete agreements have been banned, along with forced-attendance anti-union meetings, expanded unemployment benefits for hourly school workers who lose pay during the summer, and higher workplace safety standards and meatpacking plants and large warehouses.
9. Infrastructure: Massive infrastructure spending includes $2.6 billion in 2023 funding many union construction jobs, as well as repairing roads, bridges, and other critical needs.
10. Policing & Prisons: Walz signed a ban on some chokeholds and a ban on "warrior-style" police training in 2020, and went further in 2023 changing the standard for deadly force and banning police from entering homes without knocking (with limited exceptions). With Walz's support, the legislature passed a massive overhaul of the state's prison system with the intention of making it more rehabilitative to reduce recidivism. Phone calls from prison are now free, and expungement of non-violent crimes is easier and clemency is more attainable. He banned people in hate or extremist groups from becoming licensed police officers.
11. BONUS! Marijuana: THC was inadvertently legalized in 2022 when legislators plowed through hundreds of pages of a health & human services bill and some didn't notice the provision. Walz ran on fully legalizing marijuana, which he and the legislature did in 2023. They facilitated expungement of records for those with low-level marijuana-related convictions.
12.BONUS BONUS! Tax Policy: Unlike Arizona, Minnesota boasts of the most equitable tax system in the country according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. The tax system (for example) assesses married Minnesotans who file jointly making up to $46,330 in income at a 5.35% rate, while married Minnesotans who file jointly pay a 9.85% rate on income over $321,450.
The state has increased taxes on higher-income residents and corporations, while offering generous credits to lower-income taxpayers.
Are any of these achievements your dream for Arizona?
REMEMBER TO MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT ALL DOWN THE BALLOT!