ST. PAUL – As other states move forward on lifting COVID restrictions and planning for a return to normal living, Governor Walz future plans are shrouded in secrecy. State Representative Rod Hamilton (R-Mountain Lake) said that process needs to change very quickly.
“14 months ago this peacetime emergency began, and Governor Walz hasn’t even given us a hint as to when he thinks it should end,” Hamilton said. “People continue to struggle with these restrictions and they deserve some form of hope from the Governor’s Office.”
Hamilton noted that Florida has already lifted its remaining COVID restrictions, and Connecticut lifted its capacity limits in March. New York and California recently established target dates for this process.
Hamilton said House Republicans have voted 18 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. House Democrats have blocked them all.
“The governor needs to set a target date of when capacity limits and other COVID restrictions can be lifted and work towards that goal,” Hamilton said. “Small business owners in our border communities are getting crushed due to the continued uncertainty surrounding the COVID restrictions and lack of a master plan to begin a new normal. The governor needs to show Minnesotans how we’re going to move forward and when we’re going to do it.”