Tonight, Americans Will See Governor Walz Is Fighting for Them – With a Record to Prove It
October 1, 2024
Tonight’s debate will prove that only one ticket is fighting to improve the lives of hardworking families and has a record of delivering tangible progress throughout their careers.
In Minnesota, Democrats, led by Governor Tim Walz, have passed laws to provide breakfast and lunch for K-12 students, increase funding for mental health services, cut taxes for middle-class families, establish paid family and medical leave, and enshrine protection for reproductive freedom. Meanwhile, JD Vance is the poster boy for Trump’s Project 2025, with virtually nothing to show for the people of Ohio.
As Governor Tim Walz prepares to face off with Project 2025 Post Boy JD Vance, DNC Spokesperson Stephanie Justice issued the following statement:
“From Congress to the Governor’s Office, Tim Walz has an impressive record of delivering for middle-class families like the one he grew up in. He’s helped make Minnesota a shining example of what it means to fight for our shared values and stand up for the individual freedoms that Donald Trump and JD Vance threaten through their Project 2025 agenda. Tonight, Governor Walz will make that contrast clear to the American people as he underscores his commitment to working side-by-side with Vice President Kamala Harris to build an Opportunity Economy where everyone has a fair shot to get ahead.”
Governor Tim Walz worked to end hunger in Minnesota schools, passing universal free meals for students in grades K-12.
AP News: “Minnesota governor signs ‘One Minnesota Budget’ as Democrats celebrate their top goals becoming law”
“The wide-reaching set of measures includes funding for: free school meals to children, free tuition at public colleges for students whose families earn less than $80,000 a year, a paid family and medical leave program, health insurance regardless of immigration status, gun violence prevention, abortion rights protections, voting rights expansion and more. ‘It’s gonna mean a fairer, more inclusive, better and more prosperous Minnesota,’ Walz said.”
Minnesota Public Radio: “Walz signs universal school meals bill into Minnesota law”
“Surrounded by school children, teachers, advocates and public officials, Gov. Tim Walz signed a bill into law Friday to provide breakfasts and lunches at no charge to students at participating schools. It makes Minnesota the fourth state in the country to do so. During the signing ceremony, Walz told Minnesota parents this will ease some of the stress on them.
“‘If you’re looking for good news, this was certainly the place to be,’ said Walz. ‘I’m honored and I do think this is one piece of that puzzle in reducing both childhood poverty and hunger insecurity.’”
Minnesota Reformer: “Walz celebrates first months of universal free school meals”
“Walz last March signed into law the universal free school lunch bill — one of his major budget priorities — after it passed the DFL-controlled Legislature. Students can receive one free breakfast and one free lunch every day regardless of their family’s income.
“The majority of Minnesota schools receive federal funding from the National School Lunch Program, which reimburses them for each meal served, though it doesn’t cover the cost of the entire meal. The new Minnesota program fills this funding gap.”
After Donald Trump’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, Tim Walz stood up for fundamental freedoms, making Minnesota the first state to pass a law codifying abortion rights.
AP News “Minnesota governor signs broad abortion rights bill into law”
“Gov. Tim Walz enshrined the right to abortion and other reproductive health care into Minnesota statutes Tuesday, signing a bill meant to ensure that the state’s existing protections remain in place no matter who sits on future courts.”
MinnPost: “Minnesota has become an island for abortion access in the Midwest”
“Minnesota has become an island for abortion access for women who have fallen victim to the bans made possible by Trump and his MAGA Republican allies — including the over three million women in the Midwest who now live under a ban. Hundreds of women travel every week to our state to access the care they need; in fact, the need for abortion care in Minnesota has risen almost 36% since the fall of Roe. […]
“If Trump receives a second term as president, he will enact a national ban and overturn all of the work our DFL leaders have done to make Minnesota a safe haven for abortion access — not just for Minnesotan women, but for all of the women who need it. Minnesotans don’t take attacks on our freedoms lightly. We have already rejected Trump and his anti-freedom agenda twice — and we’ll do it again this November.”
As governor, Tim Walz passed the largest tax cut in Minnesota history and delivered for families struggling with rising costs.
Office of Governor “Governor Walz Signs One Minnesota Budget Into Law”
“‘In January, I outlined a vision to make Minnesota the best state in the nation for kids to grow up in. Today, we’re turning that vision into reality,’ said Governor Walz. ‘The work we’ve done over the last five months will make a generational impact on our state – it will lower costs, improve lives, and cut child poverty.’”
MSNBC: “Here’s how Kamala Harris’ running mate Tim Walz could help shape the child tax credit”
“For 2023, more than 215,000 Minnesota tax returns claimed the credit for over 437,000 eligible children with a total average tax break of $1,244 per child … ”
Minnesota Reformer: “Governor signs ‘junk fee’ ban into law”
“Gov. Tim Walz signed the bill (HF3438) into law on Monday morning. It will take effect on Jan. 1 everywhere but metro area airports, which have until June 2025 to comply.
“The bill’s authors say the measure will provide more transparency for consumers by forcing businesses to advertise the true price of a good or service, rather than listing a lower price while charging a significant service fee at the end of a transaction.”
As governor, Tim Walz built on successes of the Biden-Harris administration by passing the largest bipartisan infrastructure bill in Minnesota history.
CBS News “Historic Minnesota construction season underway thanks to big state, federal investments”
KNOX Radio “A historic year for infrastructure in Minnesota”