• someguy3@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    Going through his wiki page:

    Nebraska and Minnesota national guard for 24 years, leaving with rank command sergeant major. 1981-2004. “Walz attained the rank of command sergeant major near the end of his service,[23] but retired as a master sergeant”.

    Social studies teacher and football coach while in national guard.

    Member of US house of Reps for 12 years. 2007-2019.

    Governor of Minnesota for 5 years, 2019 to now.

    Voting record:

    Walz opposed President Bush’s plan to increase troop levels in Iraq.[34] In his first week as a legislator, Walz cosponsored a bill to raise the minimum wage, voted for stem cell research, voted to allow Medicare to negotiate pharmaceutical prices, and voiced support for pay-as-you-go budget rules, requiring that new spending or tax changes not add to the federal deficit.[35]

    Even as he represented a district that had usually voted Republican, pundits described Walz’s policy positions as ranging from moderate to liberal.[36] He voted against the act to Prohibit Federally Funded Abortion Services[37] and to advance the Affordable Care Act out of the House.[38] He also voted to continue funding for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan,[39] and against the 2008 TARP bill, which purchased troubled assets from financial institutions.[40]

    Political positions:

    Legal weed for Minnesota.

    Against 2008 bailouts. For American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

    On education said that the most important thing to do “to ensure a solid base for [America’s] economic future … is to provide the best education possible for [American] children.”[93]

    Pro gun rights. Doesn’t seem to like NRA.

    Labor: Walz signed a law banning captive [anti-union] audience meetings and non-compete clauses.[104][105] The law also mandated paid sick leave for employees and increased safety inspections, as well as ergonomics requirements to reduce the risk of repetitive strain injuries

    Pro lgbtq. Banned conversion therapy.

    Gaza. Of the protests against U.S. funding of the war in Gaza, Walz said: “This issue is a humanitarian crisis. They have every right to be heard… These folks are asking for a change in course, they’re asking for more pressure to be put on… You can hold competing things: that Israel has the right to defend itself, and the atrocities of October 7 are unacceptable, but Palestinian civilians being caught in this… has got to end.” Walz also said he supports a ceasefire in Gaza.[104]

    Served on Veterans committee while a house rep.

    Abortion: Walz supports abortion rights,[89] and has a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood.[41] The National Right to Life Committee gave him a rating of zero.[41

    • sh00g@lemmy.zip
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      4 months ago

      Other notable additions from Wikipedia:

      “Walz received a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood in 2012, from the American Civil Liberties Union in 2011, from the American Immigration Lawyers Association in 2009–2010, from the AFL-CIO in 2010, from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in 2009–2010, and from the National Organization for Women in 2007.”

      And:

      “Walz was ranked the 7th-most bipartisan House member during the 114th Congress (and the most bipartisan member from Minnesota) in the Bipartisan Index created by The Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy, which ranks members of Congress by measuring how often their bills attract co-sponsors from the opposite party and how often they co-sponsor bills by members of the opposite party.”

      In other words, Walz seems to be a champion of progressive ideals while also being more than willing to work with those across the aisle. This is a great thing for swaying independent voters.