Legislative Update: Spiking COVID Cases

Dear Granite City Neighbors, 

I want to start off by sharing how honored I am to have earned two more years of working for you in the Minnesota House of Representatives. I take this responsibility to heart, and I’m excited to continue our efforts improving St. Cloud and the entire state. For the 2021 Legislative Session, the House will remain in DFL control, and the Senate will keep a narrow GOP majority. With the only divided state legislature in the nation, Minnesotans have sent a clear message that they expect us to come together, work across party lines, and find solutions for our state, and that’s what I will continue to do.

COVID Cases Spike Throughout Minnesota

Yesterday was our November Special Session, where my colleagues and I in the House and Senate chose to continue Governor Walz’s emergency orders - in large part due to the fact that Minnesota is seeing a dangerous spike in cases, and our deadliest days yet of this pandemic. This pandemic is exhausting, but as we reach our limit of ICU beds in some corners of the state, my fellow House member, Dr. Alice Mann, took a moment yesterday to remind us that too much is at stake to become complacent with this virus. You can listen to Dr. Mann’s remark’s here. 

In response to the skyrocketing COVID cases, this week Governor Walz announced new restrictions for bars, restaurants, and gatherings. These are hard pills to swallow, especially with the holidays approaching, but they remain incredibly necessary.

In addition to the requirements put on bars and restaurants starting today, there will also be a 10-person limit for indoor and outdoor social gatherings. For larger events, such as weddings and funerals, there is a 50-person limit starting on November 27, and a 25-person limit starting December 11.

We’re on the precipice of what could be a very dangerous time for our state, and our nation, and how we move forward is up to us. On top of these new restrictions, we must continue to do our best to socially distance, wear a mask, and get tested when we feel sick or have come into contact with COVID. Additional locations and different forms of COVID testing are now available in Minnesota. You can find your closest testing site here, and you can find more information on the recent safety restrictions here. 

New Projects for St. Cloud

Last month, the Minnesota Legislature passed a Jobs & Local Projects and Critical Economic Development bill with investments in infrastructure and economic stimulus to help communities bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic, including projects I championed for our community as a member of the House Capital Investment Division. 

Right now, there are thousands of Minnesotans who have been blindsided by the unprecedented times brought on by the pandemic, and communities across the state are ready to get to the work of helping Minnesota bounce back. This bill, now law, is a big part of that. The projects we invested in will not only provide the jobs and resources needed for our state’s economic recovery, they will also be staples of our community for years to come.

For our community, projects in this bill include:

• Renovations for the St. Cloud MAC
• Investments in SCSU
• Updates for the St. Cloud Correctional Facility
• Funds for the nearby Foley Wastewater Treatment Facility

Stay Connected

It’s highly likely that we’ll have one more special session in December, but after that we’ll be back to our regular legislative schedule with our newly elected members in January. You can stay up to date on our work by subscribing to these legislative updates here (and be sure to share with others who may be interested), and “liking” my official Facebook page.

We have challenging times ahead, but I remain confident that there’s no issue we cannot face when we do so together. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to reach out to me at (651) 296-6612, or email me at rep.dan.wolgamott@house.mn. I look forward to hearing from you. 

Sincerely, 

Rep. Dan Wolgamott