GOP Lawmakers Press for End to Emergency Powers

Republican lawmakers highlighted legislation Wednesday, June 2, that would end the peacetime emergency powers used by Governor Tim Walz to manage the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Representative Barb Haley, R-Red Wing, the proposal, modeled on Alaskan legislation, would end the Chapter 12 emergency declaration used by the Governor and instead declare a public health disaster for the management of federal COVID-19 relief.

Senator Jeff Howe, R-Rockville, author of S.F 2559, said that it is clear that the emergency is over and expressed frustration with Governor Walz’s ongoing use of the emergency powers.

Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka took questions from the press about the progress of working groups to reach agreements in the various state budget areas and the coming special session to finalize the state’s next two-year budget.

Teddy Tschann, spokesperson for Governor Walz, released the following statement: “Governor Walz is committed to working with the Legislature and finding bipartisan solutions to improve the State’s response to emergencies. Unfortunately, the proposal put forward by Minnesota Republicans is not a serious plan – it would slow down vaccination, jeopardize hundreds of millions of dollars in hunger relief, and end the eviction moratorium overnight with no plan to provide an off ramp for renters or landlords as we come out of the pandemic.”