Jan. 20, 2022

Gov. Tim Walz plans to push for $4.4 billion in tax cuts in the upcoming session, including some that would go out as tax rebate checks to most households. The rebates would be up to $350 and would be subject to an income cap. The governor’s office dubbed them “Walz Checks.”

The proposal he laid out Thursday would require legislative approval. He asked lawmakers to act quickly to get money out the door.

“Nobody out there gives one dang what they’re called. They just want them in their pockets. So we’ll get them there," the governor said.

Walz also proposed $1 billion toward hero pay awards for front-line pandemic workers.

Republicans reacted to the plan by expressing support for the fix to the unemployment fund that would head off business tax increases. But they criticized his call for rebate checks as an election-year public relations campaign.