Walz Pays Rioters Tear Gas Vacation

Clear Facts

• Minnesota Walz officials confirm rioters claimed tear gas exposure for taxpayer-funded paid leave.
• Applications reference injuries from protests against Trump immigration enforcement Operation Metro Surge.
• Program provides up to 20 weeks paid at 55-90% wages capped at $1,423 weekly.

Democratic Gov. Tim Walz’s administration members testified that rioters used tear gas claims from demonstrations to access state Paid Family and Medical Leave.

Deputy Commissioner Evan Rowe affirmed applicants cited “harm and damage” from “chemical munitions” during a Tuesday hearing.

“The short answer to your question is yes,” Rowe told Rep. Cedrick Frazier.

“As would any circumstance that causes injury or harm to the public, I think we have seen applications that have been tied to some of the violence that we saw as a result of Operation Metro Surge,” the deputy commissioner added.

“As you would expect of people who suffered serious injury … I guess it’s not unexpected … but that is, I think, one benefit of having this program is that people who have been seriously injured now have the ability to receive, take time for care. I don’t know if there’s any additional details,” Rowe said.

Minnesota Paid Family and Medical Leave Director Greg Norfleet confirmed evidence from calls and forms specifically referencing Operation Metro Surge.

“It’s relatively hard to quantify, but we do have evidence from calls to our contact center, through references on serious health care condition forms that specifically reference Operation Metro Surge as a contributing factor to the need for leave,” Norfleet followed up.

Norfleet noted questions from applicants, providers, and insurers about program interaction with Operation Metro Surge impacts.

“So, we do know that this has had an impact on the claims that have come in, but it is relatively hard to quantify,” the director added.

Operation Metro Surge followed welfare fraud reports and preceded riots after federal shootings in Minneapolis.

Taxpayers now fund generous leave rewarding anti-enforcement violence undermining traditional law and order.

Defend American values against such abuse of public funds.

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