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Dear Friends,
This week, Governor Walz extended his Stay at Home order until May 4th. I have heard from many individuals and small business owners in our community about the impact this has had on your lives and businesses, and I share many of your concerns. Please know that legislators have been reaching out to the administration daily, asking for exemptions, flexibility, and common sense. If a business can open while keeping their employees and customers safe and healthy, they should be allowed to do so.
I am encouraged that the Governor has allowed some flexibility for certain businesses to continue operating, such as lawn care, landscaping, agricultural equipment repair, garden centers, nurseries, and more. I am hopeful that he will continue to evaluate the situation and allow the businesses that can operate safely to reopen, while following the guidelines for slowing the spread of the virus urged by the Minnesota Department of Health.
One of the concerns I share with many of the people I've heard from is that amid all of these executive orders, no one but the Governor's administration has had access to the modeling data that these sweeping orders are based on. The Governor has been asked for weeks about the data and assumptions his decisions were based on, and he didn't release any of that information until this morning. You can see the newly-released information here. This will give the legislature as well as experts beyond the team currently working on the model the data they need to evaluate the numbers and assumptions. The more eyes we have on this, hopefully the better the data and decision-making will be.
The Minnesota House of Representatives met in session this week to pass HF4537, a bill to expand workers compensation to front-line workers who contract COVID-19. Our front line workers are doing vital work for our communities, and they need to know we have their back. This bipartisan bill is a good first step to make sure they are taken care of as they care for those around them.
This Sunday is Easter, and while it will look different than in past years, I hope you will still take time to reflect on the meaning of the day and reach out to family and loved ones you cannot see in person. Have a blessed Easter and a wonderful weekend!
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