Wasteful Walz
With Minnesota on track to receive $2.8 billion in federal funding, Republican lawmakers are calling on their DFL counterparts to vote and keep the federal money under legislative control. Citing irresponsible spending habits under the state’s emergency declaration, Republicans dove deep into financial records to see where the Governor and his administration spent Minnesota taxpayers’ money.
A recent report indicates that Walz’s administration spent hundreds of thousands of dollars for accounts on YouTube to reach targeted demographic groups in order to combat Covid-19 misinformation; however, in some instances videos received less than 20 views. Another $20,000 contract is with a DC based consulting firm to “provide strategic communications support and services” to the Governor’s Communications Team. Interestingly enough, the point of contact on the contract is Brigid Helgen the daughter of former MSFA chair Michele Kelm-Helgen, who previously stepped down from her position after being accused of improperly using her position of power to allow people with ties to the democratic party to use suites at US Bank Stadium. Another instance conveys a contract with a local Minnesota radio station to broadcast the Governor’s news conferences. Shouldn’t a news station simply report the news and not be paid to do so by an elected official?
Minnesotans depend on lawmakers to spend this federal money intelligently, not hand it off to political allies or groups who are unable to follow through on contract stipulations. This federal funding should not be used to bolster our Governor’s public standing. It is time for Governor Walz to abdicate his emergency powers and for state lawmakers to make financial decisions that benefit all of Minnesota, not just a select few individuals.