Update From Rep Tabke: Virtual Town Hall and a halt on evictions

The most recent numbers from the Minnesota Department of Health show 235 confirmed cases in Minnesota, including 5 confirmed cases in Scott County. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the first Minnesotan to pass away due to COVID-19, which occurred over the weekend. 

This morning brought the news that Governor Walz will be self-quarantining after exposure to COVID-19, and that John Bessler (the husband of Senator Klobuchar) has tested positive for the virus. Though Governor Walz and Senator Klobuchar do not have symptoms, their experiences and the new numbers from MDH emphasize the dire need to take COVID-19 seriously. 

Things are updating rapidly, and the measures to address the virus place an immense burden on us all, but the science behind our efforts shows that the alternative would be devastating. If you have any questions about our efforts in the Minnesota Legislature, join us tomorrow for our Covid-19 Virtual Town Hall to discuss how we can curb the spread of this virus together. You can RSVP here.

Come with your ideas for where we are succeeding and where we need to do better together as a state and community. You'll be able to access our town hall here: https://zoom.us/j/178778356

The Latest From Governor Walz

Today’s update from Governor Walz and his administration took place over a conference call, a change from last week’s updates due to the governor’s self-quarantine. While there are several important measures we’re working on in the Minnesota House, the emergency powers given to the governor during a state of emergency grant him the ability to make immediate changes, as was highlighted today. 

Monday’s Executive Orders from Governor Walz included suspending the majority of evictions during the pandemic, providing additional support for small businesses, and addressing the equipment shortage some of our hospitals are facing. 

We applaud Governor Walz on his actions and continued leadership, especially when it comes to better ensuring Minnesotans aren’t losing their homes as many across the state face financial hardship. 

In addition to executive orders, the governor and lieutenant governor announced a revised supplemental budget, allocating an additional $356 million toward the state’s COVID-19 response. The revised budget would provide emergency grants to child care centers; support families struggling financially through the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP); support veterans and their families facing financial burdens; increase funding for food shelves; offer small business loans; and increase resources for Minnesotans struggling with homelessness. The budget would also create a COVID-19 Minnesota Fund that would give the state government the funds necessary to deploy resources and respond to the needs of Minnesotans in real time.

Stay Connected

We’re working around the clock with state and federal stakeholders to make sure our community and state are equipped to weather this storm. Things can drastically change by the hour, but to the best of our ability we’ll be holding daily video updates, Monday through Friday, around 4pm on the State Representative Brad Tabke Facebook Page. Please continue to share your comments and questions on what we can work on together.

Brad Tabke, State Representative|Rep.Brad.Tabke@house.mn

Eric Petersen, Legislative Assistant|Eric.Petersen@house.mn