News Release
Rep. John Burkel Calls on Walz to Set Clear End-Date for Emergency Powers
ST. PAUL, MN — Ahead of an expected announcement this week by Governor Walz loosening Minnesota's COVID restrictions, Representative John Burkel, R-Badger, 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.
"Over a year ago, the Governor began governing unilaterally, without any significant input from the Legislature, and his decisions have hurt countless Minnesota families and businesses," said Burkel. "We've reached a point where any eligible Minnesotan can find a vaccine if they want one, and infection rates are steadily falling. It is time to end the Governor's emergency powers and restore the Legislature as a co-equal branch of government."
House Republicans have voted nearly 20 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 stonewalled proposals from their own party to wind down the Governor's emergency powers.
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