A freshman member of the state House of Representatives is working to pass legislation that would end the COVID-19 emergency order levied by Gov. Tim Walz (D).
“Last week, as you may know, I again introduced a resolution to End Walz’ Emergency Powers,” Rep. Erik Mortensen (R-MN-55A) said in a Saturday press release. “The effort failed on a party-line vote which was disappointing given 6 Democrats had previously voted to end the peacetime emergency.”
“Unfortunately, those 6 Democrats put the party leadership above their constituents. Ending Walz’ Emergency Powers is by far the most common message I receive from constituents and we will not stop fighting for it until we’ve won,” the release continued. “A lot of us trusted Governor Walz when he said ‘2 weeks to flatten the curve’, but that was 10 months ago and there is no longer a legitimate Peacetime Emergency.”
Mortensen, who is on a crusade to end the state’s COVID-19 lockdowns, said he intends to re-introduce the bill next week.
Some COVID-19 restrictions were loosened, according to Mortensen’s press release.
Minnesota’s restaurants now allowed to open to 50 percent capacity with a 10pm curfew. Movie theaters, bowling alleys and museums can now reopen at 25 percent capacity.
Mortensen glibly dismissed these new measures, suggesting that the restrictions lack common sense:
Most venues must limit the number of people inside to no more than 150, including fitness clubs, which can offer classes up to 25 people and operate at 25% capacity as long as gym goers keep 9 feet apart. Youth sports games can resume Jan. 14 with spectators, subject to indoor and outdoor capacity limits. Places of worship still must operate at 50% capacity but no longer have to observe a hard numerical cap. Masks mandates still remain in place for all public areas, and in youth sports. But of course, your local Menard’s is allowed to have over 7,000 people inside at any time. #Science
“While I am sure these business owners are happy to have their business’ back this is not enough,” he said. “Walz is giving you back a portion of YOUR business, who said he could have it in the first place!”
Walz also said he introduced legislation to repeal Minnesota’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), which “government whistle-blowers have testified that up to $100 million PER YEAR is stolen from taxpayers through fraudulent means,” according to Mortensen.
He also introduced bills to implement a statewide recall process for school board members, and repeal the state’s Fiscal Disparities Tax, which he said is “quite literally a wealth redistributive tax.”
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Pete D’Abrosca is a contributor at The Minnesota Sun and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
