Cathy Wurzer interviews Gov. Tim Walz on Minnesota Now

DFL Gov. Tim Walz was Cathy Wurzer’s guest on Minnesota Now Friday.

Walz is again urging legislators to reach a compromise on pandemic frontline worker pay.

House Democrats and Senate Republicans remain at odds over how to divide the available $250 million and who should be eligible. Walz said Friday that he still wants to call a special session to act on the payments, along with drought relief for farmers.

“I’m saying I will sign a compromise version. I am not holding any hard line. Let’s just move some of this help to those folks who were put on the front line. Let’s do a little bit of work around the drought, and then we can get ready for the next session.”

A working group made up of lawmakers and commissioners will meet again Wednesday to try to come up with a compromise. The group has already met a dozen times and missed a Labor Day deadline for a deal. Walz also wants to protect his commissioners from confirmation votes in a special session. Senate Republicans have not agreed to that.