SAINT PAUL, MN – Ahead of an expected announcement this week by Governor Walz loosening Minnesota's COVID restrictions, Rep. Keith Franke, R-St. Paul Park, 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.
“As a small business owner, I know firsthand the frustrations Minnesota businesses have endured over the past year,” said Franke. “We cannot continue to be left in the dark over capacity restrictions and emergency powers. Businesses need to know if they can hire more workers or order more supplies. The Governor may be able to instantly flip the switch on COVID restrictions and emergency powers, but Minnesota businesses need to plan. If we can have a ‘pretty close to normal’ state fair, and thousands of spectators can attend sporting events, it’s clear the COVID emergency is over. It’s time for Gov. Walz to be transparent and layout the timeline for ending his COVID restrictions and emergency powers.”
Rep. Franke and 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.