These are pictures of Bagley (above) and Gonvick (below), which today resemble ghost towns when they should be alive, moving and working. This shutdown is killing Main Street businesses in Minnesota and things need to change.
Dear Neighbor,
Greetings as we make our way through yet another week where it seems all discussions center on COVID-19, but there’s been a bit of a twist in the conversation.
The House conducted a session on Tuesday and, while we continue to put public health and safety at the top of the priority list, House Republicans also are working to plan for the future so that we actually have an economy when we get to the other side of this outbreak.
Concerns are growing regarding executive orders issued by Gov. Tim Walz. These unilateral decisions he is making to shut down our economy are putting an extreme strain on Minnesotans and I am hearing directly from those people every single day.
That is why House Republicans put forward a resolution aimed at easing the governor’s Peacetime Emergency Declaration restrictions, while also keeping in place important measures to protect our citizens, small businesses and front-line workers as the state’s COVID-19 response continues.
We can do both. We can get our economy going again and still protect the health and safety of our citizens. The governor’s very own data provided by the University of Minnesota shows that, by protecting the vulnerable and continuing to observe social distancing, we can begin the process of bringing our economy back starting now.
The goal of the resolution we offered was to let the data be our guide so we can work on a balanced solution that prioritizes health and safety while also allowing us to avoid a sustained economic shutdown. If we’re basing our decisions on data from models, let’s make sure we’re learning from what has and hasn’t worked elsewhere: https://bit.ly/2XNAaFb
Specifically, the proposal would have ended the peacetime emergency declared by Walz in Executive Orders 20-01 and the extension included in Executive Order 20-35. At the same time, it would have kept in place Executive Orders aimed at protecting Minnesota citizens, small businesses, and front-line workers. It also urged the public to continue physical distancing while taking measures to protect those most vulnerable to the virus until the outbreak has subsided.
Unfortunately, the resolution we offered was blocked by the majority, but we will not stop fighting to get this passed.
Many of our businesses already have gone over the brink and others are getting there. We just can’t sustain a prolonged shutdown and expect the doors to magically open weeks or, God forbid, months from now if the governor continues to keep the state shut down. What happens if/when another wave hits? The way the U of M explained its model, it intentionally drags out the virus peak, possibly setting us up to be hit by a second wave which would damage us even more. If we are truly basing our decisions on good science, why aren’t we drawing from all good viewpoints. Here is some food for thought: https://bit.ly/3eu5S00
I realize the governor thinks of Greater Minnesota as mostly rocks and cows but enough is enough. There are people here, too. We need to get back to work, even if incrementally, and we can do it while still taking COVID-19 seriously. We need to find a way to work around this situation. We can’t just hunker down in a hole indefinitely. Let’s apply common sense to our scenario and work our way out of this seclusion before we reach the point the cure is more damaging to our society than the virus itself.
Please Stay in Touch
Please continue to stay in touch to share your thoughts or concerns. My phone number is 651-296-4265 or you can email me at rep.matt.grossell@house.mn.
Stay safe and God Bless!
Matt