Gov. Walz slams Trump for the federal government shutdown and its impact on Minnesota

WCCO-AM / 830 WCCO

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the 2024 Democratic vice-presidential candidate, slammed President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans over the federal government shutdown.

Transcript

00:00Well, good morning everybody, thanks for joining.

00:13Not any confidence because of the government shutdown, and I think it's appropriate to

00:18note on this, with Republicans in full control of Congress, the inability to get a budget

00:22done is going to negatively impact Minnesotans.

00:25But just to be very clear, whether it's the pressure that's on our health care facilities

00:35and especially in the rural areas, 18,000 federal employees that will be getting furloughed

00:40and the impact that that will have on them.

00:43State services and vital programs, those things from veterans to food service programs to housing

00:50will start to be impacted.

00:52So we're in a precarious situation.

00:58Our allies across the world, especially in Europe, are deeply concerned about how we're

01:02dealing with this.

01:03We're seeing the Vice President of the United States sending out memes that are racist against

01:08the leadership in the House and Senate at a time when we should be trying to find solutions.

01:13So we need to get them back to the table.

01:17It's just outrageous.

01:18There's talking points, there's this rhetoric, and then it comes up against reality.

01:23This is very simple.

01:25Don't cut the Medicaid.

01:26You're going to get your tax cuts for the wealthy.

01:28You've got enough people on that.

01:30But to get them, you're going to have to have some things.

01:32It is outrageous for me to think that we're sending out memes, we're laughing at people,

01:38we have people being furloughed, we have programs being cut, and these people are still receiving

01:43a paycheck.

01:44Thanks, Governor.

01:45Good morning, everyone.

01:46I'm Anna Mingy, State Budget Director at Minnesota Management and Budget.

01:50This has really significant ramifications for programs delivered both directly by the federal

01:54government and for those state services that rely on federal funds.

01:59Our current analysis is that a lapse in federal funds will have minimal impact on federally funded

02:04state activities in the short term.

02:08Most state programs have funding remaining from previous funding authorizations.

02:13But what we know is that the longer a shutdown lasts, the greater the impact to state programs

02:19and services.

02:20I think we've seen this vindictiveness, a willingness to try and target.

02:24And this whole idea that they see states as Democrats and Republicans, or they see areas

02:31as red or blue, is simply the most egregious violation of their oath to try and take care.

02:39You have a responsibility to give your best for people who vote against you.

02:43They don't see it this way.

02:44And I remind you all, this is not normal.

02:46This, you know, the desire to find both sides do it type of thing is, it's pretty hard.

02:52I don't think you've ever found another president who said, they're my enemy.

02:55I don't want to help.

02:56I don't want to do things.

02:57And so, yeah, I worry about that.

02:58I'm not going after them, I'm speaking the truth.

03:01I'm certainly not going to bend a knee to what they're doing.

03:03I'm certainly not going to say, oh, this is fine, the way they talk like that.

03:06I think you hear my rhetoric is, is that we're willing to find working solutions.

03:09And I am going to challenge him.

03:11I mean, my God, we've got the White House threatening investigations in jail time because

03:17an escalator stopped.

03:18Walk up the damn stairs.

03:20This stuff happens.

03:21This is life.

03:22Do not normalize this.

03:24So I'm going to continue to approach them.

03:25I'll continue to work with them.

03:27We'll kind of continue to deliver.

03:29And I said, if there are lawful laws that are in place, we will follow that.

03:33If we need to challenge in court, we'll challenge in court.

03:36But this idea that you've got to go and kiss the ring, or you've got to go and give some

03:40type of award to get basic services that he swore an oath to defend, that is outrageous.

03:46So no, I will not change how we approach that.

03:48Thanks.

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