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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Ryan Winkler (DFL)

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House and Senate DFL Leadership Statement on Governor Walz’s State of the State Address

Sunday, March 28, 2021

St. Paul, Minnesota — Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman, Senate DFL Leader Susan Kent, and House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler released the following statements on Governor Walz’s third State of the State address:

“Minnesotans have been through a challenging year filled with sadness and loss, but we remain resilient and hopeful for the future. I'm grateful to Governor Walz and his administration for their leadership throughout this pandemic. Their work and the work of Minnesotans to protect each other saved countless lives and put us in a position to quickly rebuild from COVID,” said Speaker Hortman. “We also share the Governor's goal of passing a state budget that helps Minnesotans weather what's left of the pandemic and then thrive once it's behind us. Together, we must ensure that Minnesota is a more equitable state where everyone has economic security and opportunities to succeed. House DFLers are determined to build that future.”

“I am incredibly thankful for Governor Walz’s leadership during this pandemic and have tremendous confidence in his commitment to Minnesota’s working families, small businesses, and our students. The Governor’s proposed budget and the Due North Education plan put our students first and aligned Minnesota’s shared values with our budget,” said Senate DFL Leader Susan Kent. “No Governor runs hoping to be confronted with a historic global pandemic. But Governor Walz has risen to the moment over the past year and made tough decisions that have undoubtedly saved thousands of lives. The Governor’s leadership has helped our state be in a good position to recover and rebuild beyond our pre-pandemic norms, especially as we continue to lead the nation in vaccine distribution.”

“Democrats are defeating COVID-19 and we’re determined to help workers and families emerge stronger from the pandemic,” said Majority Leader Ryan Winkler. “Under the leadership of President Biden and Democrats in Congress, significant aid is on the way, but the Legislature cannot let one-time federal assistance get in the way of the long-term investments that help workers and families become more financially secure. Minnesota is becoming more average. It’s getting harder and harder for people to get ahead. The pandemic is a short-term crisis, but it has laid bare the long-running problem of disinvestment in our people in favor of tax cuts for the rich and well-connected. Minnesota has the resources to address big challenges like child care, education, health care, racial inequities, and worker protections, but we’ll continue to fall behind if Senate Republicans obstruct House Democrats and Governor Walz from enacting a budget that puts families and workers first.”