Minnesota Report
Last night’s 2024 State of the State Address by Governor Tim Walz (DFL-MN), was his sixth and due to the COVID pandemic was not his first outside of the House legislative chamber. In 2020, the address was made from the Governor’s Residence, and in 2021 from Mankato West High School.
In a stab at Alabama Supreme Court’s decision on in vitro fertilization (IVF) which he and his wife personally experienced in the births of their two children, Gus and Hope. Walz said, “What those judges did was a direct attack on my family. My children. Gwen and I will not forget it. We will not forgive it. And neither will thousands of other moms and dads across this state.”
As he ticketed off the accomplishments made in the areas of feeding children in schools, the child care tax credit, reducing the burden of medical debt, providing paid parental and family leave, expanding access to pre-k and affordable child care, significant investments in affordable housing, and free public college tuition for low-income families, it’s clear the emphasis was the family. This was also marked by recognition of the creation of the new Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) set to open later this year.
In the school setting, Walz addressed the issue of protections from gun violence in schools and instituted red flags laws. “High school students should be worried about pop quizzes and prom dates – not mass shootings. And that’s why, as Governor, I’ve made it a point to take on the NRA.”
The short, just over 30 minute speech, can be viewed in its entirety here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDV6h97asBU
The text of the prepared speech can be read here.
https://mn.gov/governor/newsroom/press-releases/#/detail/appId/1/id/615613