White House looks to Minnesota as a model for infrastructure, paid leave and climate policies

Cross posting from GD https://www.democraticunderground.com/100218034927

Gov. Tim Walz and legislative leaders met with senior White House officials on Thursday to highlight a historically productive 2023 session, holding up Minnesota as a model for other states looking to enact paid leave programs and sweeping clean energy policies. "Everybody out here is noticing," said Walz, shortly after back-to-back morning meetings at the White House, adding that the message from federal officials was: "These are things that we want to get done for the country and you are implementing them. What can we do to be successful?"

The trip is the latest stop on a national campaign to prop up the long list of progressive proposals Walz and the DFL-led Legislature passed in a five-month span, from an ambitious clean energy standard and legalizing marijuana to codifying abortion rights. The governor also recently spoke at an event with the Indiana Democratic Party. The White House events focused on Minnesota's passage of a statewide paid family and medical leave program, as well as climate and infrastructure legislation.

(snip)

Walz said they met with John Podesta and Mitch Landrieu, both senior advisers to the president, to talk about the federal infrastructure package. The governor said both sides asked questions about funding that's available and how it's going to be rolled out. Walz noted that Democrats included $2.4 billion in the state's two-year budget that can be used to leverage federal dollars for construction projects in the state.

Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic wanted to hear from them about getting a good return for the state. "Minnesota sends more money to the federal government than we get back, so from my perspective it's about how can we maximize federal dollars to help Minnesotans," she said.

More..

https://www.startribune.com/white-house-to-recognize-dfl-policies-passed-in-minnesota-last-session-biden-walz-state-dinner/600284504/

See also

Want a model on how to govern, Democrats? Look to Minnesota's miracle.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217969147