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Protecting Our Children
Minnesota continues to have the weakest child pornography laws in the country and my proposal to fix it, HF229/SF1220, has yet to be heard in a single committee in the House and Senate.
Many of you know I have been working on this and similar legislation every year since first getting elected in 2017. I will not stop until we fix these laws to protect the innocent and punish those who practice and participate in the evil act of producing, trading, collecting, and possessing child rape, torture, and abuse videos and imagery.
Watch, listen, and share this presentation by the Child Protection League that discusses the importance of moving forward with fixing our weak laws.
Ask your legislator when will they stand up and do the right thing to protect our children?
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One Year of Emergency Powers
Last Saturday marked one full year of the governor’s emergency powers. As COVID-19 vaccinations increase and infection rates drop, it’s becoming completely indefensible for the governor to retain these powers.
For the last 12 months, the governor has been acting like a tyrant and unilaterally making decisions that impact the lives of millions of Minnesotans. It’s past time for the Legislature’s role as a co-equal branch of government to be restored so we can participate in the decision-making process because, right now, we are lagging behind most other states.
House Republicans have voted 16 times to end the powers and I will continue fighting to end the emergency so Minnesotans can get back to living.
Lifting Restrictions
I wanted to pass along an update on the dial turns being announced by the governor on Friday. These are coming far to late for many businesses and he should not be holding Minnesotans back like he continues to do. However, this is important information for you to know so I am passing it along.
Unless otherwise noted, the adjustments are effective at noon on Monday, March 15. They include measures to:
Make it easier to safely gather with family:
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Social gatherings: Up to 50 people outdoors or 15 people for indoor gatherings, both without household limits.
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Youth sports: Pod size increasing to 50 for outdoor activities.
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Religious services: Remove occupancy limit, but social distancing required.
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Celebrations: Follow venue guidance.
Support small businesses:
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Bars and restaurants: Increasing allowable occupancy to 75%, up from 50%, with a limit of 250 people. The limits apply separately indoors and outdoors. Bar seating increases to parties of 4.
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Salons/barbers: Removing the occupancy limit, but social distancing required.
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Gyms/fitness centers/pools: Increasing allowable occupancy to 50%, up from 25%. Outdoor classes can increase to 50 people.
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Entertainment venues: Increasing allowable occupancy to 50%, up from 25%, both indoors and outdoors, with a limit of 250.
As summer nears, the state will adjust guidelines for large venues. All venues can open at 50% capacity up to 250 people. Venues with normal occupant capacity over 500 can add additional guests, effective April 1:
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Seated outdoor venues can add an additional 25% of their capacity over 500, with a limit of 10,000 people.
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Non-seated outdoor venues can add an additional 15% of their capacity over 500, with a limit of 10,000 people.
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Seated indoor venues can add an additional 15% of their capacity over 500, with a limit of 3,000 people.
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Non-seated indoor venues can add an additional 10% of their capacity over 500, with a limit of 1,500 people.
As more Minnesotans are vaccinated, work from home will no longer be required – but it will continue to be strongly recommended – beginning April 15. All employers should continue to accommodate employees who wish to work from home.
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Vaccine Eligibility Update & Links
On Wednesday, March 10 vaccine eligibility expanded to the next two groups of priority populations – more than 1.8 million Minnesotans will become eligible to receive a vaccine beginning this week. These newly-eligible Minnesotans, the state has directed providers to prioritize appointments for individuals in the first of these groups. Providers will then have the flexibility to offer available appointments to people in the second group.
The first group includes:
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People with specific underlying health conditions: Sickle cell disease, Down Syndrome, or oxygen-dependent chronic lung or heart conditions, and those who are in active cancer treatment or immunocompromised from organ transplant
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Targeted essential workers: Food processing plant workers
- Minnesotans with rare conditions or disabilities that put them at higher risk of severe illness
The second group includes:
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People age 45 and older with ONE or more of the following underlying medical conditions; or, age 16 and over with TWO or more of the following underlying medical conditions (learn more about these conditions on the Who’s Getting Vaccinated page):
- Active cancer
- Chronic kidney disease
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Diabetes - Type 1 or 2
- Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
- Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from HIV, bone marrow disease, chronic steroids for more than 30 days, immunodeficiency disease, or from taking immunosuppressive medications
- Obesity - body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 kg/m2
- Pregnancy
- People 50+ in multi-generational housing
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Essential frontline workers: Agricultural, airport staff, additional child care workers not previously eligible, correctional settings, first responders, food production, food retail, food service, judicial system workers, manufacturing, public health workers, public transit, Postal Service workers.
In the days ahead, the Vaccine Connector will inform newly-eligible Minnesotans about vaccine opportunities in their area. If you are eligible, you may also be selected to make an appointment at one of the state’s COVID-19 Community Vaccination Program sites. If you are selected, you will be notified by text, email, or phone call by one of the state vaccination partners running those sites, Vault Health or Primary Bio. Additional community vaccination sites may launch as the federal government makes more vaccines available in the future.
If you are eligible to get vaccinated, you do not have to wait for information from the Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Connector before you get your shot. You can connect with your primary health care provider or use the Find Vaccine Locations map to find a vaccine appointment near you. If you are an essential frontline worker, your employer may be reaching out with information about vaccination opportunities.
Visit the Who’s Getting Vaccinated page to learn more about the phases and when you will become eligible.
With the constant state of new information on COVID-19 and the vaccine process, it is best to check the following links regularly for updates:
If you have a link to local information that would be helpful to add to this list, please send my way.
Please Stay in Touch
Please continue to stay in touch to share your thoughts or concerns. My phone number is 651-296-4265 or you can email me at rep.matt.grossell@house.mn.
Have a great week and God Bless!
Matt
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227 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, MN 55155
ph: 651.296.4265 |
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