Dakota Times

After Gov. Tim Walz took an authoritarian stance during an interview with John Croman, a KARE 11 political reporter, Rep. Pat Garofalo disapproved of what the Minnesota governor had to say.  

"Minnesota @GovTimWalz says his team is still deciding how back-to-school will look this year. He says it’s still his intention to get children in buildings part of the time, if possible," Croman said in his Twitter post of a video interview with Walz. 

During the interview with Croman, Walz expressed that he intended to get as many students as possible into the schools for in-person instruction, but is still working on a back-to-school plan, according to a video of the interview posted on Twitter. 

"It's still my intention for us to try and find a model where we get as many students back in the buildings as possible," Walz said in his interview with Croman. "We do it with the best health advice that we can and we be adaptable, because this is changing. I think if you'd asked us three weeks ago I would be much more certain that we'd be able to move a larger number back in than I am today." 

While Walz is working with the government to create a plan to allow children to resume in-person learning, Garofalo believes the governor is going about it in the wrong way. 

"I believe parents, working with their local school board and local administrators can make this decision," Garofalo said in a Twitter post in response to Walz. "We do NOT need a King to rule over us and make these decisions." 

Many Minnesotans also commented on the Twitter post of Garofalo responding to the Croman interview with Walz. Many voiced concerns over one plan for the whole state when different regions and communities are having different experiences to the COVID-19 pandemic. With different situations, they will need a flexible plan that they can alter based on individual school districts and Garofalo agreed with them. 

"There are hundreds of school districts in our state," Garofalo said in the comments of his post. "How can having only one policy for our entire state be the reasonable choice?"