Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen: Gov. Walz must reconsider using natural disaster recovery account to rebuild Minneapolis

Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-Alexandria) released the following statement today regarding Governor Walz’s intention to nearly drain the state’s disaster relief fund to use for fire damage during this summer’s riots and civil unrest in Minneapolis.

“When Governor Walz ran for office under the slogan “One Minnesota,” nobody in Minnesota could have imagined this was the way he meant,” said Senator Ingebrigtsen. “Governor Walz continues to circumnavigate the legislature at every opportunity he can. First, with COVID, now with our disaster recovery account. The Governor’s actions are divisive, and he must rethink draining the disaster relief account to help Minneapolis rebuild after their riots.  Those resources are only meant to help communities rebuild after tornadoes, flooding, or other natural disasters, and now he’s leaving them without protection. This action reinforces the rural metro divide and shows that Walz’s truly only views Greater Minnesota as “rocks and cows.” This is unacceptable, and is only made worse that our state is in this situation as a result that Walz’s indecisive leadership first allowed the riots to spill out of control.”

The Minnesota Senate this summer convened a series of Joint Committee hearings to review the actions of the Walz Administration and Mayor Jacob Frey. The result is a 61-page report that details the failures that unnecessarily lead to widespread damage and uncontrolled rioting. 

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