SAINT PAUL, MN – Ahead of an expected announcement this week by Governor Walz loosening Minnesota's COVID restrictions, Rep. Kristin Robbins, R-Maple Grove, is calling for transparent and concrete dates and/or metrics for the end of the peacetime emergency. Just this week, Florida lifted all remaining COVID restrictions, and Governors of Democrat states like New York and California have established target dates for the lifting of capacity limits and other COVID restrictions. Other deep-blue states like Connecticut lifted capacity limits starting as far back as March.
“For over a year, Minnesota families and businesses have been left in the dark when it comes to Gov. Walz’s dial changes,” said Robbins. “The science that tells the Governor we can have a ‘pretty close to normal’ state fair and thousands of spectators at sporting events also indicates that the time has come to end COVID restrictions and the emergency powers. Businesses cannot flip the switch on capacity restrictions, they need time to plan. People are waiting to know if local festivals can book bands and parades, or if families can host reunions and graduation parties. Gov. Walz needs to layout a timeline so that Minnesotans can plan their family celebrations and businesses can open their doors to all.”
Rep. Robbins and House Republicans have voted more than a dozen times to end the peacetime emergency, and have put forward numerous proposals to end or modify the Governor's Chapter 12 powers, as well as proposals to establish timelines and metrics that would end the peacetime emergency. Democrats have refused to advance those proposals in the House, and have even prevented proposals from their own party to wind down the Governor's emergency powers.