GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. - Minnesota is steadily approaching the midterm elections, and voters are working to inform themselves before Nov. 6.
To help educate voters about the candidates in Minnesota's major races, KARE 11 Sunrise's Lauren Leamanczyk sat down with DFL candidate for governor Tim Walz to ask him about the things Minnesotans care about most.
Walz is a six-term congressman in southern Minnesota's 1st District. He is also a retired high school geography teacher and Army National Guard veteran.
Here's where he stands on the issues.
Gun control
Walz supports more restrictions on assault weapons, and said that he does so "as a lifelong sportsman, a 24-year veteran of the military who has fired [assault weapons] and someone who supports second amendment rights and firearms."
He told KARE 11 that it makes sense for us to understand that we can reach a compromise of responsible gun ownership.
"Restrict some of these weapons of war," he said. "They just don't make sense in terms of what they're used for and the carnage that they can produce."
When asked if he would support a ban on these weapons, he said there needs to be a conversation and he would support the idea moving forward.
He agrees with temporary gun protection orders for people who might be in a mental health crisis. He said if you have a family member that's concerned and has the capacity to intervene, it makes sense in those times of crisis.
"That’s not restricting your second amendment right, it’s just making good sense and safety for the family," Walz said.
Taxes
When asked what taxes he would raise, Walz said governors set the vision, not raise taxes. He says in order for taxes to be raised, the legislature will have to work together with the will of the people.
Minnesotans are honest people, Walz said, and we need to have an honest conversation about what it takes to pay for the way of life we have.
"I will be honest about what it takes with an understanding that I’ve lived my entire life guarding every penny of those taxpayer dollars," Walz said. "Minnesota is a state that stands above because we’ve had these conversations."
He also reiterated his public statement that he supports removing social security tax in Minnesota, and that he would consider raising the gas tax.
"The main way you pay for roads and bridges is through the gas tax," he said. "I'm entertaining anything that needs to be on the table, whether it is a mileage or wheelage tax, or an infrastructure bank."
When asked if he'd be willing to support raising other taxes besides the gas tax, Walz answered with a a series of questions: How do we make sure that all of our children get a world-class education? How do we make sure we are preparing our work force for the future, whether it's college or technical school?
He says in order to answer these questions positively, it might require looking at raising taxes or moving things around.
Healthcare
According to Walz, a market-based healthcare system doesn't work. He said healthcare is a basic human right and need and we should deliver it in the most cost-effective manner.
"My first priority is make sure every Minnesotan has access to care and that's with the MinnesotaCare buy in," he said. "Pay at cost, it’s a public option that allows people to pay and they will pay the cost. It’s no added government expense, but it expands that marketplace and allows them to get in. So I think that’s the direction that we would go."
Ultimately, Walz said the real discussion is about insurance reform, and that's not healthcare. His healthcare plan would force insurers to cover people with pre-existing conditions.
"If you start to pick and choose who can be in those programs, which will happen if you have an a la carte system or if you go to a so-called market base...what you will do is insurers will build their pool around healthy, younger people, and sick or older people or pre-existing conditions (like pregnancy, like cancer, like anything else), we’ll leave you off," he said.
Education
Nearly 60 school districts in Minnesota have budget deficits or started the year with them. Walz said he could tackle issues like these differently, because he'd be the first Minnesota governor that spent 20 years as a public school teacher.
When asked how he'd pay to bring the districts out of deficits, Walz said it costs money not to pay to do so.
"What we do know is that if a child drops out of school, the cost to society is tenfold over after they finished high school and paid back in the taxes," Walz said. "So we have to start viewing it as an investment."
Walz says it won't work just to throw money at education. He says we should invest and lift up our schools, use best practices, reduce drop-out rates and make sure we have the skill sets to enhance our economy.
"The return on the investment, for example, in preK is 12 to 1," Walz explained. "Where in the stock market can you get 12 to 1? For every dollar that we invest, we get 12 back at the end. That’s the type of thinking that Minnesotans always have done."
Attack Ads
Walz maintained that he is known for not running attack ads. He said he runs positive ads, and if you look at his ads, he does not mention his opponent's name once.
"I talk about my father's death and what healthcare meant," he explained. "I think you're looking to elect a governor who represents all the people, one who lifts the tone above all that and tells you what they're going to do.
Walz says he doesn't have all the answers, but the governor's job is to lay out a vision - and his vision for Minnesota is a much more positive, can-do attitude. He said he is proud of his campaign.
Walz said he thinks it's appropriate to call out groups who do run attack ads. Ads are fine as long as they're not questioning the character or personally attacking someone, he said. However, he believes questioning the positions is okay, because that’s what political campaigns should be, he told KARE 11.
What is your top priority?
Walz said the first thing to do if he is elected governor is to bring together the issues of healthcare, education, taxes and policies. He said he'd show Minnesotans, like he believes he has in Congress, that there is room to work together and that there is a tone that can work.
Walz also would like to write state budgets with transparency instead of unveiling a budget after it's been written.
“I never prepared my life to run for public office," he told KARE 11. "I had no money, no name, and no political pedigree. I was teaching high school when I just decided that the time had come. I think my life had prepared me well to serve. I want to do this because I think that now is the time for someone who can bring us together. Someone who can bridge the gap."