Category: State Issues

Minnesota Legislature to convene Tuesday, April 7 to pass workers’ compensation legislation

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — The Minnesota House of Representatives and the Minnesota Senate will reconvene on Tuesday, April 7, 2020. House Speaker Melissa Hortman, Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt, and Senate Minority Leader Susan Kent released the following statement:

“Legislative leaders have agreed to reconvene on Tuesday. We will be taking up legislation to address workers’ compensation claims for our first responders, police officers, firefighters, and health care workers, including home health care workers, who contract COVID-19.”

3M warns Trump: Halting exports under Defense Production Act would reduce number of masks available to US

3M  warned on Friday that the Trump administration’s request for the company to stop exporting respirator masks could actually make the protective gear less available in the United States.

The Minnesota manufacturing giant issued the warning a day after President Donald Trump invoked the Defense Production Act to force 3M to step up its production of desperately needed respirator masks for front-line health workers to use in the fight against the coronavirus.

The text of Trump’s order issued Thursday night directs acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf to “use any and all authority available under the Act to acquire, from any appropriate subsidiary or affiliate of 3M Company, the number of N-95 respirators that the Administrator determines to be appropriate.” Continue reading.

Gov. Walz’s COVID-19 Update: April 4, 2020

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Below is an update on the COVID-19 pandemic as it pertains to Minnesota as of 7:00 PM on 4/4/2020.

Updates from the Governor

Yesterday, Governor Walz signed an Executive Order to lift hours of service requirements for certain truck drivers, in order to support the state’s agriculture community, while they work to keep Minnesotans fed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the ongoing spread of COVID-19, there are heightened concerns within the agricultural industry about the decrease in the commercial driver workforce and the risk it poses to efficient movement of agricultural commodities. Executive Order 20-27 lifts certain regulations on hours of service, helping to facilitate safe and efficient movement of critical supplies.

“Minnesota agriculture is critical to both our economic health and our ability to keep Minnesotans fed and healthy during this pandemic,” said Governor Walz. “This measure will help ensure essential agriculture supplies can be transported quickly and efficiently.” Continue reading “Gov. Walz’s COVID-19 Update: April 4, 2020”

Gov. Walz’s COVID-19 Update: April 3, 2020

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April 3, 2020

Below is an update on the COVID-19 pandemic as it pertains to Minnesota as of 2:45 PM on 4/3/2020.

Updates from the Governor

Governor Walz today unveiled a new State of Minnesota COVID-19 dashboard that tracks the virus in Minnesota and provides the latest available data on available ventilators, ICU beds, personal protective equipment (PPE), and testing. The dashboard will be updated daily and is available at https://mn.gov/covid19/.

“During Minnesota’s Stay Home Order, we’ve worked to collect data, increase the availability of necessary equipment, and develop strategies to address economic and social impacts of COVID-19,” said Governor Walz. “This dashboard will provide Minnesotans with timely, accurate information about the data that informs our decisions on COVID-19 response, recovery, and resources.” Continue reading “Gov. Walz’s COVID-19 Update: April 3, 2020”

Minnesota Senate DFL Week in Review: April 3, 2020

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The fight for hourly school employees
and everything happening in the Legislature this week.
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Hourly school workers deserve a paycheck

One of the most significant disruptions of COVID-19 has been in our schools, where classes can no longer meet in person. Students, teachers, support staff, and administrators have had to put a plan in place for continuing education for the next several weeks. The latest >>

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Continue reading “Minnesota Senate DFL Week in Review: April 3, 2020”

MN GOP Chair Accuses Democrats of “Communist Control” for Social Distancing

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Yesterday, the Chair of the Minnesota Republican Party, Jennifer Carnahan, took to Twitter to allege that “Democrats have turned Coronavirus into an excuse for extreme communist control,” due to social distancing measures implemented in the city of Minneapolis.

The full text of Carnahan’s tweet reads as follows:

“Was it necessary for Minneapolis to close the beaches for the summer in early Apr? Much can unfold, change & transpire between now/then. The Democrats have turned Coronavirus into an excuse for extreme communist control. Wake up people!”

Ken Martin, Chairman of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party issued the following statement in response:

“I am shocked that the Chair of the Minnesota Republican Party would undermine important social distancing measures to score cheap political points. Jennifer Carnahan’s allegation that Democrats are using COVID-19 to push ‘extreme communist control’ is as ignorant as it is dangerous.

“Political leaders from both parties agree that the COVID-19 outbreak is the worst public health crisis our nation has seen in a century. New York City is converting convention centers to field hospitals and the Pentagon is preparing to distribute 100,000 body bags for the people this virus kills. In the midst of so much tragedy, uncertainty, and chaos, it is astonishing that the head of the Minnesota Republican Party felt it was appropriate to launch a hackneyed political attack because Minneapolis city officials are trying to keep Minnesotans safe.

“Giving up swimming in our beautiful Minneapolis beaches this summer is the least we can do to protect the lives of Minnesotans and prevent this scourge from spreading even further. Thousands of people are dying and will die because of the cavalier attitude of people who are putting their own privilege ahead of our community.  I sincerely hope this outbreak comes to a swift end. However, until it does, it is vital that we adhere to strict social distancing guidelines in order to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities.”

 

Coronavirus: One more death in Minnesota, cases rise to 742

The numbers are up to date as of 8 p.m. Apr. 1, but the total number of cases is likely much higher. — 2:15 p.m. update

The latest updates from the Minnesota Department of Health and Gov. Walz media briefing at 2 p.m.

– The latest death was a 69-year-old Hennepin County resident, not associated with a long-term care facility.

– State trooper who was in Gov. Tim Walz’s security team has since recovered and is fully back.

Continue reading.

Social Distancing To Fight the Coronavirus Saves Lives and Preserves the U.S. Economy

Center for American Progress logoIn the midst of an exponentially rising global coronavirus pandemic, the Trump administration—after first denying the severity of the crisis and then reacting too slowly and haphazardly—remains eager to relax measures that have belatedly been put in place to limit its effects.

The rationale for the administration’s stance is purported to be purely economic, based on a claim that the economic consequences of social distancing and other life-saving measures are just too high. But like so many of the claims this administration makes, it is false. Evidence overwhelmingly suggests that our economy would be much better off if we take strong measures to limit spread of the virus.

COVID-19 has the potential to harm many people. The virus is highly contagious and has a significant mortality rate. A surge in the numbers of those seriously affected is already overloading hospitals in hard-hit areas, leading to preventable deaths and making it difficult for the U.S. health system to provide care for non-COVID-19 patients. Continue reading.

Gov. Walz’s COVID-19 Update: April 1, 2020

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April 2, 2020

Below is an update on the COVID-19 pandemic as it pertains to Minnesota as of 4:30 PM on 4/2/2020.

Updates from the Governor

Governor Walz today announced that Minnesota’s health plans have agreed to waive costs for treatment of COVID-19. This move comes in response to a March 13 letter from the Governor and State Commissioners of Health and Commerce urging Minnesota health plans to remove barriers to coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minnesotans with commercial insurance—including individuals, small businesses, and some large businesses—are now eligible for the following benefits: Continue reading “Gov. Walz’s COVID-19 Update: April 1, 2020”