Democrats should adopt a new agenda: Make America Minnesota Already - Ramplell WaPo

Republicans have smeared Democratic vice-presidential nominee Tim Walz as an “extremist,” “communist” and “left-wing radical.” They warn of the “dangerously liberal” agenda that he’s implemented as governor of Minnesota and that he might soon inflict upon the entire country. You know what? The country should be so lucky.

In general, Walz’s state agenda has been politically smart, fiscally sound and family-friendly — not to mention long overdue pretty much everywhere else in America. In fact, Democrats should seriously consider rebranding themselves as the “MAMA” ticket: “Make America Minnesota Already.”

By now, for example, you might have seen the heartwarming footage of children hug-bombing Walz as he signed a law providing universal free school lunches and breakfasts. The scene was unquestionably great PR for a party accused of being “anti-family” and beholden to “childless cat ladies.” It provided an especially compelling contrast with a similar photo op staged by Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R), who was surrounded by frowning kids as she signed a law expanding child labor. One of these two gubernatorial figures looked “radical,” and it sure wasn’t Walz.

But that specific law Walz was signing — a key plank of the MAMA agenda — happens to be quite good policy, too. Making nutritious meals available to kids, without stigmatizing the poorest among them, is a valuable public investment. A recent meta-analysis of past studies on universal school meals found positive associations with children’s diet quality, food security and academic performance.

Other policies that he’s pushed also look like good stewardship of public funds — in addition to being, you know, compassionate. For instance, Minnesota is developing a program to ensure that kids on Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program are continuously insured from birth to age 6, rather than periodically kicking them out of the program if their family’s income fluctuates slightly.

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