/usr/web/www.marshallindependent.com/wp-content/themes/coreV2/single.php
×

Walz says Minnesota won’t leave anyone behind

Governor discusses federal shutdown during Ivanhoe visit

Photo by Deb Gau Gov. Tim Walz met with members of the public in an event at the 19 & 75 Cafe in Ivanhoe on Sunday. Besides getting to meet and talk with the governor, many residents took pictures.

IVANHOE — It was getting crowded at the 19 & 75 Cafe.

In addition to residents from the Ivanhoe area, people were arriving from Lyon and even Redwood County to meet with new Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

The turnout was a positive sign, Walz said. As he addressed the people gathered at the cafe, Walz emphasized the need for Minnesotans to continue taking part in their democracy, and to find common ground to help meet public needs. It will be an important part of his job too, he said.

“It’s my responsibility to be the governor for all 5.5 million Minnesotans,” Walz said.

It was both a public meet-and-greet and a family gathering that brought Walz, his wife Gwen and their family to Ivanhoe on Sunday afternoon. Gwen Walz said the family got together over the weekend to celebrate her mother Linn Whipple’s birthday. Whipple lives in Ivanhoe, so it worked out to also hold an event for the public at the cafe.

While the atmosphere at the cafe was light and informal, Walz also said Minnesota is facing some serious concerns and uncertainties. Perhaps the biggest right now is the partial federal government shutdown. Minnesota receives $1 billion a month in federal funding, and it’s not clear how long the state will be able to cover the cost of federal services during the shutdown.

However, Walz said Minnesota would be focused on protecting vulnerable populations affected by the shutdown.

“Minnesota won’t leave anyone behind,” Walz said.

Walz said last week’s press conference drew some attention for showing a bipartisan front in response to the shutdown. Minnesota House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, spoke at the conference, saying it was important to provide basic services like health care for the most vulnerable people in the state.

“I think when we do agree on things, it’s important for us to stand together,” Daudt said at the press conference.

On Sunday, Walz said that uniting to meet a common goal is something Minnesota leaders will need to keep doing in order to meet basic public needs.

“Minnesota has a long tradition of getting things done,” he said. But to help keep up that tradition, he said members of the public will also need to keep letting government leaders know what they need.

Gwen Walz encouraged members of the public to give Minnesota leaders their patience, as well as their feedback.

“We’re going to be listening,” she said.

Gov. Walz said he plans to continue holding meet-and-greets around the state, and work to fight the idea that the divide between urban and rural Minnesota is too wide to get across.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today