STRONG ARMED

Minnesota Guv Uses First Veto to Deny Pay Rises to Rideshare Drivers

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has pleased Uber and Lyft, but angered rideshare drivers in the process.

It took Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) five legislative sessions to enact his first veto Thursday, which included denying pay rises and job protections to rideshare drivers. Walz claimed in a press release that despite rideshare drivers deserving “fair wages and safe working conditions,” the measure “is not the right bill to achieve these goals.” Instead, he issued an executive order to create a commission exploring new rideshare legislation next year. “I have spent my career fighting for workers, and I will continue to work with drivers, riders, and rideshare companies to address the concerns that this bill sought to address.” The governor made the announcement after Uber said it would pull out of Minnesota—except for the Twin Cities metro area—if the bill were allowed to pass, according to the Star Tribune.