Walz: 'Public safety will take center stage during special session'

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Minnesota Governor Tim Walz believes Minnesota legislators will meet in special session several times this summer as they work through a number of issues at hand. 

Walz told WCCO's Dave Lee during the WCCO Morning News on Friday that he looks to see bipartisan support for a number of issues as during a special session that starts at 12 p.m. Friday.

"I do think there's a strong bipartisan effort on the bonding bill," Walz said. "I think the last three weeks have shifted things. I think the idea around public safety will take center stage."

With COVID-19 and more of the state reopening, Walz says the pace of this special session, and any others that follow, will likely be different from years past.

"Obviously it's about compromise," he said. "I think we should view it more as what we can get done rather than the timing on it. Usually there's a tendency to have these things teed up to get them done and head out. I think this different. These were discussions around public safety and policing that were swirling for years. They weren't really given the full hearing they needed to and now they're gonna have to. I think this will look more like a regular session."

When the legislature reconvenes on Friday, we plan to work together to pass police reform and accountability and build a stronger and more equitable economy.Minnesota is at a turning point. We need to seize this opportunity and create meaningful change. pic.twitter.com/IuoNhIUPEA

— Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) June 10, 2020

Walz has been on the receiving end of heavy criticism in recent weeks, particularly over the handling of the unrest following the murder of George Floyd and his handling of reopening the state from closures caused by COVID-19. In an interview on Thursday with WCCO Radio's Chart Hartman, House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt held nothing back in his criticism of the DFL governor saying Walz "looked like a damn fool" as violence broke out across the Twin Cities three weeks ago.

When asked Friday morning whether or not security would be a concern during the special session, or any special session to follow, the Walz told Dave Lee there's a dual challenge to take into consideration.

"We're seeing civil disobedience in the situations at the Minnesota State Capitol this week," Walz said. "It's a fine line because that is the people's house. We always build our capitols with very large, public spaces. It's meant to have people gather. It's a dual challenge because we're trying to keep people safe from COVID-19, but at the same time if we're in session discussing some of the most important things in a generation or more, people are going to want to be there. I think we need to balance that. It's always tough."

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Both the Minnesota House and Senate convene at 12 p.m. Friday.