Dear Neighbor,
Earlier this week, I sent an email where I touched on the fact we see reactionary decisions from the governor but no movement in planning the forward path. I also mentioned that I am receiving many calls a day from constituents who feel abandoned and ignored as our economy continues to tank under the governor’s shutdown order.
On Tuesday, House Republicans brought forward a resolution to ease the governor’s Peacetime Emergency Declaration restrictions. The resolution also kept in place important measures to protect veterans, small businesses and law enforcement as the state’s COVID-19 response continues.
In short, the resolution was designed in a way we could could keep health and safety as a top priority while also opening up our economy so people can get back to work and earn a living. I still am receiving calls and emails from local workers who are furious with the governor’s actions and say enough is enough.
University of Minnesota data shows that, by protecting the vulnerable and continuing to observe social distancing, we can begin the process of bringing our economy back. So, yes, we can do both. Let’s use that data to help us make common-sense decisions so we can avoid an even longer economic shutdown without adding to health-related issues.
The resolution ultimately was blocked on a party-line vote. Specifically, it would end the peacetime emergency declared by Walz in Executive Orders 20-01 and the subsequent extension included in Executive Order 20-35, while keeping in place Executive Orders aimed at protecting Minnesota veterans, small businesses, and law enforcement. The resolution maintained statutory provisions contingent on the peacetime emergency and urged the public to continue physical distancing measures while taking measures to protect those most vulnerable to the virus until the outbreak has subsided.
A similar measure brought by other lawmakers was also addressed Tuesday but failed to secure the votes necessary to earn a recorded vote.
I will continue working to check the governor’s unilateral decision because one person should not have this much latitude to impact so many people to this degree without so much as legislative oversight. The governor himself told legislators a month or so ago to let him know if he’s asking for too much. I think we are there and the resolution we put forward spells it out pretty well.
Look for more news soon and stay in touch.
-Steve