Walz Outlines New Health Initiatives in Supplemental Budget

February 3, 2022

Gov. Tim Walz rolled out his supplemental budget priorities last week, earmarking $2.5 billion for health and safety initiatives.  

Included in the health and safety proposal is $145.7 million to create a MinnesotaCare buy-in program intended to expand healthcare access. The proposal also funds a study into the prospect of free primary care in Minnesota. 

Additionally, Walz's proposal includes funding to address health disparities in Minnesota. The plan includes a workforce package to address the challenges in growing and revitalizing the state’s healthcare workforce for underserved families in both urban and rural areas. 

The proposal also includes $10 million for the development, management, and maintenance of a statewide shared health provider directory, which is intended to create a single source for consumers to identify which physicians and other health providers are available to them for all insurance coverage, both private and public. 

Walz included support for the legalization of adult-use cannabis in his supplemental budget as well. He has not included this in previous budgets, though he has said he would sign a bill if passed by the Legislature. The proposal includes funding for a new Cannabis Management Office that would be responsible for the implementation of the regulatory framework. 

Republicans stressed that the Legislature does not have to act on the state budget at all this session after it passed a $52 billion state budget last year. They have advocated for giving much of the $7.7 billion surplus back to Minnesotans through tax cuts. With the GOP in control of the Minnesota Senate, Walz publicly noted his support for middle-class tax cuts, specifically to cover increased utility costs felt across the state. 

The governor also advocated for returning a portion of the state surplus through what he called “Walz checks” - direct, one-time payments to qualifying Minnesotans. Republicans argued that these checks would not be permanent tax-breaks. New Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller said that his caucus members might support one-time payments, but asserted his opposition to the name of the initiative going into a heated 2022 campaign season. All 201 legislative seats and the governor will be up for election in November.