News Release
Theis calls on Walz to set clear end-date for emergency powers
ST. PAUL, MN — Ahead of an expected announcement this week by Governor Walz loosening Minnesota's COVID restrictions, Rep. Tama Theis, R-St. Cloud, is calling for transparent and concrete dates and/or metrics for the end of the peacetime emergency. Just this week, Florida lifted all remaining COVID restrictions, and Governors of Democrat states like New York and California have established target dates for the lifting of capacity limits and other COVID restrictions. Other deep-blue states like Connecticut lifted capacity limits starting as far back as March.
"Minnesotans need certainty, not to be kept in the dark as the Governor unilaterally decides how the state will move forward," said Theis. "With vaccination rates rising and the Governor admitting that summer will be 'very normal-looking', it is time for him to let go of his emergency powers and start working with the Legislature in good faith as a co-equal branch of government as session draws to a close."
House Republicans have voted more than a dozen times to end the peacetime emergency, and have put forward numerous proposals to end or modify the Governor's Chapter 12 powers, as well as proposals to establish timelines and metrics that would end the peacetime emergency. Democrats have refused to advance those proposals in the House, and have even stonewalled proposals from their own party to wind down the Governor's emergency powers.
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