Dear Neighbors,
Tomorrow marks the one-year anniversary of Governor Walz’s peace time emergency powers.
The Governor continues to insist that emergency powers are needed and that we are still in the “emergency” phase of our response to the pandemic. However, if you look at the latest statistics, it’s becoming more difficult for the Governor to justify having complete control of state government.
COVID-19 cases across the nation and state continue to fall, vaccinations are up, and both Republican and Democrat states around the United States have started the process of reopening.
The “emergency” is over. We must now move into the management and recovery phase. To effectively do that, the voice of the people must be at the table. The legislature needs to be on equal footing with the Governor and the powers must end.
I have voted more than a dozen times to end the emergency powers. Sadly, the House Democrat majority refuses to join us in this effort. Until we can peel off a few Democrats to join Republicans in supporting the end of these emergency powers, the status quo will continue.
Staying in Touch
That’s all for this week’s update. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me to share any thoughts, concerns, or questions you may have. I can be reached by phone at either 651-296-4929 or 701-361-1909. I can also be reached via email at rep.jeff.backer@house.mn.
Have a good day,
Jeff