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Quoted By: >>1327673
https://www.enr.com/articles/59089-harris-vp-pick-walz-seen-as-stalwart-infrastructure-supporter
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), tapped by presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris as her running mate, has been known as a staunch supporter of infrastructure spending throughout his two terms in the state capitol.
Walz, who was elected governor in 2018 and reelected in 2022, also served in the U.S. House from 2007 to 2019, and is seen as a solid backer of organized labor, which cheered his selection for the Harris ticket.
Tim Worke, CEO of Associated General Contractors Minnesota chapter, told ENR in an interview that "he's been a strong stalwart for infrastructure investment of all kinds."
Worke says that in Walz's first term as governor, beginning in 2019, he lacked a majority in the legislature but he proposed a gas-tax increase and "took some hits, saying we needed to improve our transportation infrastructure."
But in the end, the legislature approved the largest capital bonding issue in Minnesota history, amounting to slightly more than $2 billion, says Worke.
In Walz's second term, with the legislature in Democratic control, he was able to go further, resulting in a $2.6-billion infrastructure package, a state record for such legislation.
The bill, signed into law June 1, 2023, covered a wide range of types of infrastructure. Components include $501 million for water infrastructure, $403 million for transportation, including local roads and bridges, $78 million for a veterans’ home and $120 million for community-based organizations and nonprofits.
Walz has supported permitting reform for construction projects. He said in a 2023 appearance at an Esri Inc. conference that "permitting is too slow, it’s too cumbersome in the United States of America."
Walz added, "That’s why developers of infrastructure are looking for other places to invest. We have to move this work forward. Why are we leaving these projects undone?”
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), tapped by presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris as her running mate, has been known as a staunch supporter of infrastructure spending throughout his two terms in the state capitol.
Walz, who was elected governor in 2018 and reelected in 2022, also served in the U.S. House from 2007 to 2019, and is seen as a solid backer of organized labor, which cheered his selection for the Harris ticket.
Tim Worke, CEO of Associated General Contractors Minnesota chapter, told ENR in an interview that "he's been a strong stalwart for infrastructure investment of all kinds."
Worke says that in Walz's first term as governor, beginning in 2019, he lacked a majority in the legislature but he proposed a gas-tax increase and "took some hits, saying we needed to improve our transportation infrastructure."
But in the end, the legislature approved the largest capital bonding issue in Minnesota history, amounting to slightly more than $2 billion, says Worke.
In Walz's second term, with the legislature in Democratic control, he was able to go further, resulting in a $2.6-billion infrastructure package, a state record for such legislation.
The bill, signed into law June 1, 2023, covered a wide range of types of infrastructure. Components include $501 million for water infrastructure, $403 million for transportation, including local roads and bridges, $78 million for a veterans’ home and $120 million for community-based organizations and nonprofits.
Walz has supported permitting reform for construction projects. He said in a 2023 appearance at an Esri Inc. conference that "permitting is too slow, it’s too cumbersome in the United States of America."
Walz added, "That’s why developers of infrastructure are looking for other places to invest. We have to move this work forward. Why are we leaving these projects undone?”
