SAINT PAUL, MN – Ahead of an expected announcement this week by Governor Walz loosening Minnesota's COVID restrictions, Rep. Susan Akland, R-St. Peter, 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.
“Minnesotans need to know the roadmap for ending COVID restrictions and emergency powers,” said Akland. “Families need to plan their reunions and weddings. Businesses need to know if they can hire more workers. Minnesota is leading the nation in vaccination rates. If thousands can gather at sporting events, or if we can plan for a ‘pretty close to normal’ state fair, then Gov. Walz should be able to give us the plan to bring the pandemic to its safe conclusion.”
Rep. Akland 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.