emergency powers Archives - The Minnesota Sun

Appeals Court Sides with Minnesota Gov. Walz in Lawsuit Challenging Mask Mandate, Emergency Powers

July 13, 2023July 12, 2023 Minnesota Sun Staff

The Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Gov. Tim Walz on Monday in a case where a group of citizens had challenged the constitutionality of the governor’s indoor mask mandate that lasted 10 months during 2020 and 2021.

In its decision on Monday, the three-judge panel affirmed a lower court ruling from March 2021 that dismissed the case on the merits. The opinion, written by Judge Michelle Larkin, also noted that Walz was within the authority delegated to him by the legislature to declare a peacetime emergency during the COVID-19 pandemic. That order ran from March 2020 to July 2021.

Commentary: More Work to be Done on Emergency Powers as Pandemic Wanes

March 26, 2023 RealClearWire

Most Americans are likely pleased that when they turn on their television, no longer are there talking heads and public health figures breathlessly discussing COVID-19 case counts and deaths. Broadly, the media as a whole is no longer incessantly reporting on the topic, and nationally, the federal public health emergency declared for the COVID-19 pandemic terminates on May 11.

While the old signs of the pandemic have virtually vanished, Americans won’t forget what their governments did to them.

Minnesota Supreme Court Says Lower Court Erred in Rejecting Emergency Powers Lawsuit

February 10, 2023February 9, 2023 Minnesota Sun Staff

The Minnesota Supreme Court ordered the lower courts Wednesday to address the question of whether Gov. Tim Walz had the authority to declare a peacetime emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The high court called this question an “important issue of statewide significance that should be decided immediately.”

Connecticut Governor’s Lifting of School Mask Mandate Depends on Legislature Voting to Extend His Emergency Powers

February 12, 2022February 11, 2022 Susan Berry, PhD

Connecticut children cannot be certain they can finally be free of wearing masks in school since, although Gov. Ned Lamont (D) said he would end the state school mask mandate by February 28, that plan may depend on the legislature voting to extend his pandemic emergency powers, and then on individual school districts.

In his State of the State address Wednesday, Lamont told residents he will roll back some coronavirus restrictions, including the school mask mandate, adding, “You have earned this freedom.”

Gov. Walz Fears ‘Political Fallout’ If He Declares Another State of Emergency over COVID

November 22, 2021November 21, 2021 Minnesota Sun Staff

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has admitted that declaring another state of emergency in the face of rising COVID cases would lead to negative political repercussions.

In a Wednesday call with reporters — from Finland, no less — the governor said he won’t invoke emergency powers while Minnesota’s COVID cases spiked to the highest 7-day average in the United States.

Michigan Legislature Revokes Whitmer’s Pandemic Powers

July 22, 2021July 22, 2021 Minnesota Sun Staff

Sixteen months after the COVID-19 pandemic began in Michigan, the GOP-led Legislature has revoked Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s pandemic powers.

The House of Representatives sealed the end of her powers Wednesday with a vote of 60-48. The Senate approved the petition on July 15 on a 20-15 vote.

Democratic Rep. Sam Steckloff said petitions are meant to go on the ballot to voters instead of enacted through the Legislature and contended petition gatherers “lied” to those who signed the petition.

Democrats Say Minnesota Governor’s Emergency Powers Could Last Until August

June 17, 2021June 16, 2021 Minnesota Sun Staff

Democrats said Monday that Gov. Tim Walz’s emergency powers will most likely continue into August.

Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman, D-Brooklyn Park, thinks both the governor and the legislature “foresee an end to the peacetime emergency sometime in the not-too-terribly distant future,” she said during a press conference Monday regarding the start of the special session.

She later indicated an end to the peacetime emergency sometime in August.

Gov. Walz to Extend Emergency Powers for 15th Time Monday

June 14, 2021June 14, 2021 Minnesota Sun Staff

Gov. Tim Walz plans to extend his emergency powers for another 30 days on Monday, making it the 15th month in a row that the peacetime emergency has been extended.

A Minnesota statute says that a governor who declares a peacetime emergency may have emergency powers for only five days, after which he must ask his Executive Council to extend his powers for an additional 30 days.

Walz has requested that his powers be extended 15 times since first declaring the peacetime emergency in March of 2020, and thus has had emergency powers for over 450 days.

Minnesota Legislators Push to Abolish Walz’s Power over Public Schools

February 15, 2021February 14, 2021 Minnesota Sun Staff

Republican lawmakers want to strip the governor of his ability to “unilaterally” close schools during a peacetime emergency.

Sen. Carla Nelson, R-Rochester, authored a bill that would make Gov. Tim Walz’s peacetime emergency powers invalid in the realm of shutting down in-person school. The governor may “advise and consult” with school boards and leaders, but may not take any action himself, the bill states.

Minnesota Gov. Walz Asks Legislature to Enact COVID-19 Orders to Prepare for End of Emergency Powers

January 9, 2021January 8, 2021 The Center Square

On Thursday, Gov. Tim Walz asked the legislature to enact into law some of his executive orders to prepare for the end of his 11-month reign in a declared COVID-19 state of emergency.

Walz said they needed to work together to keep Minnesotans safe.

Gov. Walz Calls Special Session Monday to Extend Emergency Powers

October 10, 2020October 9, 2020 Minnesota Sun Staff

Gov. Tim Walz announced Wednesday a special session will take place Monday, Oct. 12, during which he intends to extend his peacetime emergency declaration for the seventh time.

In the governor’s Proclamation for Special Session, issued Oct. 7, Walz said an “extraordinary occasion” has ensued, and, therefore, “it is necessary to extend the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency.”

Walz Must Answer Abuse of Emergency Powers Charge Over COVID-19 Orders in Lawsuit

July 19, 2020July 18, 2020 Minnesota Sun Staff

Over a dozen Minnesota state legislators have joined ranks with the Free Minnesota Small Business Coalition to stop what they argue are Governor Tim Walz’s unconstitutional abuses of power. A hearing in the case will take place, July 16, 2020, in Minnesota District Court.

Minneapolis attorney Erick Kaardal of Mohrman, Kaardal & Erickson, P.A. is representing the group in a lawsuit against Governor Walz, whom they are charging with overstepping his bounds and interfering in the legislative process, violating civil liberties of legislators, business owners, and the 5.6 million Minnesotans.

Legislators, Gov. Walz Face off Over Emergency Powers via Zoom Court Battle

July 18, 2020July 17, 2020 Minnesota Sun Staff

The result of a court hearing Thursday could impact the daily lives of about 5.6 million Minnesotans.

Ramsey County District Court Judge Thomas Gilligan heard from Minnesota Solicitor General Liz Kramer and Erick Kaardal, who’s representing more than a dozen state legislators and the Free Minnesota Small Business Coalition that claim harm under Gov. Tim Walz’s executive orders.