Dear Neighbor,
The final days of the 2020 legislative session are upon us as Monday’s deadline to adjourn inches closer.
COVID-19 news once again is dominating the headlines this week. The biggest announcement came from Gov. Tim Walz announcing on Wednesday, when he said he is lifting state’s Stay at Home order effective Monday, and also is laying out plans to allow the re-opening of bars, restaurants, churches, and other businesses in the coming weeks.
I hear from countless constituents every day who are expressing more and more frustration over the governor shutting down our state and their concerns have been heard. Thank you to everyone who has reached out to express their thoughts because you have impacted this decision to begin re-opening our state.
While the governor’s decision to allow more businesses to open up on Monday is helpful to some, churches and bars and restaurants are still facing difficult restrictions at least for a couple more weeks. The governor said planning is taking place between his commissioners and those businesses to get them up and running June 1, but it seems as though the state’s preparation could have been better to get them up and running sooner.
In other news this week, a group of legislators sent a letter to Commissioner Mary Cathryn Ricker of the Minnesota Department of Education this week, urging her to rescind the recent guidance banning graduation ceremonies statewide.The letter follows guidance Ricker issued on May 8, removing the careful planning conducted by school leaders and parents regarding safe graduation ceremonies.
A universal order does not seem appropriate when we have so much variation between schools across our state. This approach ignores the thoughtful deliberations and plans schools have already put in place to protect students and guests. It is time to trust our local officials to know what is best for their communities. Congratulations, Class of 2020!
Look for more as we work through the final days of the session. The House is expected to have floor sessions through the weekend to get work wrapped up and adjourn on time at midnight Monday.
Sincerely,
Bud