Legislative Update - "Stay at Home"

Dear Granite City Neighbors, 

Tonight is the start of the “Stay at Home” Executive Order, which is scheduled to last until Friday, April 10. For many, the next two weeks will be similar to what we’ve already been practicing, but that doesn’t make it any easier. I know this will be hard, but the precious time we’re buying by helping to slow the spread of COVID-19 will give our amazing health care professionals time to prepare for and treat patients with the virus. 

To be clear, we’re not going to be locked in our homes. We can still grocery shop, go to the pharmacy, and take a walk for some fresh air – but it’s important that we practice social distancing when doing so. 

If you haven’t already, I highly recommend watching Governor Walz explain the science-based reasoning behind this tough but necessary measure. The grim reality of what faces Minnesota if we do nothing is too high a price. You can watch Governor Walz’s address here.

My Work in the Minnesota Legislature

Yesterday, the Minnesota Legislature passed our latest package of legislation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill we passed would:

• Create a Minnesota COVID-19 Emergency Fund to keep our state operating
• Help businesses across the state secure emergency loans
• Award grants to licensed family and center-based child care providers who care for the children of health care and other emergency workers
• Ensure continued funding for food systems
• Provide needed help to local governments, tribal governments, and nonprofit partners 
• Protect people experiencing homelessness from exposure to the coronavirus and to mitigate additional spread of the disease.

While this bill will be a welcomed relief to many, I’m ashamed that we’re continuing to ask our health care professionals, police officers, firefighters, and corrections officers to put their physical and financial health, and that of their families, on the line for us. We can and must do better in future efforts to deliver workers compensation and other benefits to our public safety and health care professionals in the event they are sickened or quarantined due to exposure to COVID-19

Stay In Touch

As always feel free to reach out to me at (651) 296-6612, or email me at rep.dan.wolgamott@house.mn. I’ll also be posting frequent updates on my Facebook page.  We’re going to get through this together, and I look forward to hearing from you.  

Sincerely,

Rep. Dan Wolgamott