Walz's Economic Policies Under Scrutiny as Harris' Running Mate

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's economic policies are coming under scrutiny following his selection as Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate. His proposed budget for 2024-25, totaling $65.2 billion, marks the largest in state history and includes $8 billion in tax cuts. However, this proposal has drawn criticism from state Republicans, particularly as Minnesota ranks 44th in the nation for business tax climate, according to the Tax Foundation. During his re-election campaign in 2022, Walz supported a bipartisan initiative to eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits, but the deal collapsed over surplus spending disagreements. He has since indicated that he believes the tax should remain for higher-income retirees, arguing its impact is minimal for those individuals. Additionally, Walz has expressed concerns about the challenges of promoting "Bidenomics" amid rising inflation. In 2023, Walz signed legislation mandating that 80% of public utilities' retail sales come from carbon-free sources by 2030, a move criticized for its potential costs and risks to the electric grid. He also enacted a ban on most post-termination noncompete agreements and established a hotline for reporting COVID-19 mandate violations, amid the Feeding Our Future scandal, one of the largest pandemic aid fraud cases in the U.S. As Walz steps into the national spotlight, political analysts are debating the implications of his progressive record. Some express concern that his selection may reflect a shift towards the far left within the Democratic Party, potentially sidelining more moderate candidates.