Walz first bill signing: MNLARS fix compromise

Capitol in the winter time
Photo credit Entercom

A display of bipartisanship at the state capitol, where the governor, House Democrats and Senate Republicans reached a deal to try and fix the state's troubled license and registration system, with Gov. Walz signing it into law during a public ceremony Tuesday at the capitol. 

It was the first bill signed by Walz since his inauguration.

"I always like to say, you really shouldn't get patted on the back for doing the things you're supposed to do," said Walz. "But if you watch what happens in DC right now, I'm pretty darned proud of what we did here."

Walz was Congressman for Minnesota's first district for 12 years before gaining election to the state's highest political office in November.

"Our expectation was, this is how government should work," he said. "The show of respect. The give-and-take that's here. These debates are not on idealogical lines, they're simply along lines that they feel is best for Minnesota."

The MNLARS deal was announced by Senate Republicans Monday when they outlined a nearly $6 million infusion of money to try and fix the system that's been plagued by problems since it was rolled out in 2017.  Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka says it was easy to find common ground on this issue.

So it's clear, this isn't all for MNLARS. It's $5.7 mil for MNLARS vehicle system, $5.5 mil for FAST driver system, and $2 mil for DVS staff "to meet the customer service levels needs of business partners and the public." See the bill language: https://t.co/0yPTLF30SV

— Jon Eichten (@joneich) March 4, 2019

"At this point it feels like we're all on the same page that we've got to get it fixed, it's in the best interest of Minnesota," Gazelka said. "If it can't be fixed on the present path we're on, I think we're all in agreement we should be willing to take an off-ramp and go some other direction."

RELATED: MNLARS report critical of state agencies

Senate Republicans also forwarded a bill to provide $10 million to the state's Deputy Registrars, who've suffered financial hardships due to the MNLARS problems.