Republicans shift to limit, not undo, Minnesota governor’s emergency powers

They want to limit, not undo, Walz’s authority.

After spending most of last year trying to undo Gov. Tim Walz’s emergency powers, Republicans in control of the Minnesota Senate are trying a new strategy.

They’ve introduced more than half a dozen proposals this session that would not end the peacetime state of emergency outright but would dramatically change how long the governor could wield executive power without legislative approval and limit his ability to shutter schools and businesses in response to the corona­virus pandemic.

“It’s one of our strongest messages that we’ll push this year,” said Sen. Andrew Mathews, R-Princeton, whose measure would allow businesses to fully reopen if they have a COVID-19 safety plan in place. Continue reading.