First Week of Session, Grant Information, and More

Minnesota House GOP sent this bulletin at 01/08/2021 02:15 PM CST

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January 8, 2021

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Tuesday was the first day of the 2021 Legislative Session and I am honored to once again have earned the privilege to represent my community in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Our state faces many challenges ahead, but I am ready to get to work addressing them.

We need to continue fighting against the pandemic while working to safely re-open businesses, get students back in the classroom, and balance our state's budget without raising additional taxes on already struggling Minnesota taxpayers.

This biennium I will serve on the Workforce and Business Development Finance & Policy Division, Commerce Committee, and on Rules and Legislative Administration. I was also elected by my colleagues to serve on our leadership team as our Caucus Whip.

I am here to serve you and can be reached at rep.barb.haley@house.mn or 651-296-8635. My office is located on the second floor of the State Office Building in room 239. Mail can be sent to:

Haley First Day of Session Video thumbnail

Representative Barb Haley
239 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155

I recorded a brief video from my office where, due to the pandemic, is also where I took the oath of office. I briefly spoke about what we need to get done this session and the importance of returning the voice of the people, through the 201 elected legislators, to functioning as a co-equal branch of government.

While this session will have the ability, for the first time ever, to vote remotely via biometric scanners, I plan to primarily work from my office in St. Paul. Please do not hesitate to reach out if I can be of any assistance!

From being virtually sworn into office to remote voting with a finger print scanner, the 2021 session has begun.

Events in Washington DC - Praying for our Country

The violence that took place at the US Capitol on Wednesday was not American, patriotic, or representative in any way of my Republican values.

Peaceful protests are protected speech and are an important part of our democracy. Storming the Capitol and disrupting the constitutional duties of Congress is not “peaceful” or acceptable. I condemn such violence on all levels.

An election in our country cannot be over turned by force; that is not what we stand for.

I support the peaceful transition of power following an election, which is one of the sacred hallmarks of our nation.

I pray for our country and our state. We also had protestors at the State Capitol grounds on Wednesday. I’m grateful for the increased law enforcement presence at the State Office Building and Capitol so that we can continue our work to serve Minnesotans.

Restrictions Lifted, Working to end Powers

On Wednesday, Gov. Walz announced a loosening of restrictions on businesses and events. Here is a summary of the changes announced:

Restaurants are allowed to reopen at 50 percent capacity with a max of 150. Groups can include no more than six people, and tables must be spaced six feet apart. Bar service is allowed to resume to customers in groups of two. Restrictions on dining between 10PM and 4AM remain in place.
Gyms remain capped at 25 percent, maximum capacity raised to 150, and classes can be increased to 25 people with distancing.
Outdoor events and entertainment capacity remains at 25 percent with the maximum capacity raised to 250.
Indoor entertainment and events (bowling alleys, movie theaters, museums, etc.) may open at 25 percent with a cap of 150.
Youth and adult sports games may resume January 14 with spectators subject to the same indoor entertainment restrictions.
Pools are open at 25% capacity.
Wedding receptions and other "private parties" may resume with limits. If food and drink is served there is a limit of two households or 10 people indoors and 3 households/15 people outdoors. If there is no food/drink, they are covered by the event/entertainment restrictions.
Churches remain open at 50% but the overall capacity limit has been lifted so there is no maximum.

These are welcomed by the many businesses and groups that have been devastated by the latest round of restrictions. However, the administration still needs far greater input from the community and other stakeholders when making decisions on how to keep Minnesotans safe while re-opening our economy and restoring jobs.

The current power structure is not working. We cannot continue months of unilateral executive branch control which cuts out the legislature and the voice of the people. I will take the lead on working towards a bipartisan solution past the Emergency Powers so that the legislature is restored as a co-equal branch and we can have public input to balance public health, safety, and restoring our economy and peoples’ livelihoods.

Letter on Youth Sports Mask Requirement

Earlier this week, I joined a number of my colleagues asking the governor to listen to the experts, including WHO and the CDC, and remove the mask mandate for youth sports.

We have heard from many youth coaches and parents in our districts who find this mask mandate unworkable and outright harmful to their players. Many students with asthma or other conditions, who otherwise would have participated in sports, will no longer be able to do so.

They are following their doctors’ advice that wearing a mask during strenuous exercise could have adverse health consequences for them.

These kids really want and need the fun, stress relief, and sense of accomplishment that comes from playing sports and feel they are unfairly harmed by these regulations.

The letter can be read in full here.

DEED Grants taking Applications

This week, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development released applications for Movie Theater and Convention Center Grants established in the recent state COVID-19 relief package passed in December.

The links to applications and information on the three new programs included in Minnesota’s small business relief package, signed into law December 16, are:

Minnesota Convention Center Relief Grant Program – This temporary program was established to provide economic relief for convention centers adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This program will make grants of up to $500,000 to eligible convention centers located in Minnesota. DEED will administer this program. All convention centers interested in receiving a relief grant must submit a completed application by Jan. 29. Applications are available here.
Minnesota Movie Theater Relief Grant Program – This temporary program was established to provide economic relief for movie theaters adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This program will make grants of up to $150,000 to eligible movie theaters located in Minnesota. DEED will administer this program. All movie theaters interested in receiving a relief grant must submit a completed application by Jan. 29. Applications are available here.
County Relief Program – DEED is working closely with Minnesota counties to disburse money. All counties must apply. More information is available here.
- Information for Goodhue County is available here
- Information for Wabasha County is available here.

Minnesota businesses have been hit tremendously hard by COVID-19 and the subsequent closures and one-size-fits-all restrictions by the governor. Thank you for all you have done to stay in business and we have to hope we can return to normal very soon.

STAYING IN TOUCH

As always, if you have questions or concerns regarding any issue, please contact me. You can reach me at rep.barb.haley@house.mn or 651-296-8635.

Sincerely,

/RepBarbHaley

239 State Office Bldg.
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-296-8635
rep.barb.haley@house.mn

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