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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Mary Franson (R)

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Legislative Update from Rep. Mary Franson

Friday, September 17, 2021

Dear Friends,

This week the courts ruled against a lawsuit that wanted to force students to wear masks in every school district statewide. This is a huge win for students, families, and school boards to be able to implement the policies that are right for their local communities. The judge wrote: “the judiciary cannot order a co-equal branch of government to exercise its discretionary, political judgment to implement a specific educational policy.” 

This is great news, but doesn't mean that Democrats will stop their push to force masks in every classroom. Gov. Walz could still attempt to declare a peacetime emergency and issue new executive orders. That's why we need to continue our work to reform and permanently rein in the Governor's emergency powers. These decisions belong in the hands of Minnesotans — not the governor. 

I also sent a letter to Attorney General Keith Ellison this week urging him to defend the individual liberties of Minnesotans in the wake of President Biden’s vaccine mandates on businesses. The letter comes as workers and states across the country are filing lawsuits against vaccine mandates.    

Now more than ever, individual liberties must be protected. The President nor the federal government has any authority under our constitution to implement a vaccine requirement for private employers. My colleagues and I are calling on Attorney General Keith Ellison to uphold the oath he took to defend the constitutional rights of all Minnesotans.