Minnesota state legislators will be back in St. Paul on Monday for the seventh special legislative session of the year as Gov. Tim Walz plans to renew his peacetime emergency powers once again.
Walz announced on Wednesday that he would be calling lawmakers back to the Capitol as he intends to renew his emergency authority for another 30 days as the coronavirus pandemic stretches on. There is light at the end of the tunnel, with COVID-19 vaccines set to arrive in Minnesota for priority groups this month.
Rulemaking around distribution and prioritization of vaccines will be among legislators’ tasks when they convene next week. They are also expected to consider a potential aid package to Minnesota small businesses and families as the economy continues to reel due to restrictions aimed to curb the deadly virus’ spread — if the divided Legislature can agree on a deal.
“Minnesota’s small businesses and workers are bearing a large burden of the COVID-19 pandemic in order to protect their entire community amid restrictions that are saving lives,” Walz said in a Wednesday statement. “I call upon our state Legislature to come together and ensure our businesses stay afloat, our workers are supported, and our families can put food on the table.”
As of earlier this week, legislators of the Democratic-controlled House and Republican-led Senate said they had not come to a consensus on an aid package. Pressure is mounting for them, though, with business and industry leaders — as well as everyday Minnesotans — pleading for a lifeline to make it through what’s expected to be a dark winter.
With no agreement yet in the divided U.S. Congress for a second round of coronavirus aid to states, Minnesota has spent the majority of its federal CARES Act relief dollars distributed this spring.
According to a presentation to state lawmakers on Wednesday, the Minnesota Management and Budget office reports that of the $2.2 billion provided to Minnesota, the state’s remaining balance is approximately $209,000.
The money has been authorized for a variety of coronavirus-related public health and assistance measures: $358 million on education and child care; $197 million on testing; $89 million on food security; $132 million for at-risk groups; $70 million for economic security, and $25 million on critical care supplies. Additionally, $1.2 billion and $103 million have been authorized for local governments and state government, respectively.
States have until Dec. 30 to incur pandemic costs in order to be covered by CARES Act dollars, according to the U.S. Treasury’s rules. How programs like testing and food assistance will continue into the new year is unclear as Congress has yet to reach an agreement on a second round of pandemic aid.
Back in Minnesota, state legislators will be returning once again to the Capitol on Jan. 5 for their regular session.
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December 10, 2020 at 05:47AM
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Walz calls for special session to extend emergency powers - TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press
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