Dear Neighbors,
It was good to see the CDC updated its COVID guidance yesterday by indicating fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask.
This ultimately caused the governor to lift the statewide mandate on masks, with communities and businesses still able to require them if they so choose. This is 100% the correct decision and another important step in getting back to normal.
The 2021 legislative session is entering its final weekend with much left unresolved as Senate Republicans and House Democrats continue to struggle to reach agreement on a new two-year state budget.
The main sticking points include Democrats’ refusal to drop tax increase at a time when the state has a multi-billion-dollar-budget surplus and Governor Walz’s insistence on retaining his emergency powers.
Walz is holding on to these emergency powers so that he can spend federal COVID relief funds without legislative approval or oversight.
This week we found out that he has already been spending some of these federal dollars on wasteful things like:
- Nearly $100,000 to a non-profit which specializes in providing abortion assistants.
- $12,500 payment to a radio station to broadcast the Governor’s press conferences.
- $275/hour contract with a New York public relations company.
- $50,000 to a non-profit to establish talking circles, complete with $20 gift cards to incentivize participation.
- Nearly $20,000 to a non-profit to recruit volunteers to put together “wellness bundles” including tea and non-traditional health supplements.
His spending is even further proof that we must end the emergency.
Stay tuned for more updates after the legislature adjourns on May 17th.
Staying in Touch
Please do not hesitate to reach out to me to share any thoughts or concerns you may have about state government or the job I'm doing as your representative. It would be great to talk with you. I can be reached by phone at 651-296-8237 or via email at rep.brian.daniels@house.mn.
Have a great weekend,
Brian