RELEASE: Daudt calls on Gov. Walz to include Public, Business, Health Experts, Legislators in plans to reopen Minnesota

ST. PAUL — Last week, Gov. Tim Walz announced an extension of his Stay at Home executive order and tasked agency commissioners with developing plans that would allow additional businesses to reopen if they can do so safely. With many businesses expressing frustration over the governor’s Stay at Home extension, and few public details about the guidelines being developed by state agencies, House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, called on the Walz administration Monday to include members of the public, legislators, representatives from small businesses and large corporations, health care experts, and others in the planning process for the eventual reopening of Minnesota’s economy.

“With the state shut down as a result of the Governor’s executive order, Minnesotans deserve greater transparency and input into the process of eventually reopening our economy and getting folks back to work,” Daudt said. “It should not be up to a few commissioners in Saint Paul to be the sole decision-makers for thousands of businesses and millions of employees. We need a transparent process that includes the public, business leaders, health experts, and legislators—together, we can create a Minnesota plan to reopen our economy, and do it in a way that protects people’s health and well-being.”

Daudt also highlighted that under the modeling information released Friday, the administration’s own projections show no difference in ICU demand or fatalities if the Stay at Home order is extended into May (Scenario 4) compared to efforts to isolate and protect those most vulnerable to the virus (Scenario 3).

“If we can begin the process of repairing our economy while still protecting those most vulnerable, we should have that conversation. Let’s let the numbers guide our work, and do this in a way that prioritizes health and safety while doing everything we can to make sure our economy can come roaring back when this crisis is behind us.”

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