Watch a video of Sen. Jasinski’s floor comments here.

The Minnesota Senate on Monday overwhelmingly approved a $216 million emergency relief bill to help small businesses affected by Gov. Tim Walz’s most recent executive order. The goal of the relief package is speed: businesses are struggling under the weight of the governor’s restrictions, and need assistance as fast as possible. Under the agreement, the first relief checks could be mailed by the end of the month. 

Senator John Jasinski (R-Faribault) made the following comments on the floor in support of the bill:

“Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you Senator Pratt for bringing this bill forward. I, too, am going to vote in favor of it. But I have some serious concerns.

“I just got a text from a constituent this week. His name is Mike Swanson. He owns Fitness in Motion in Faribault, a health club. His quote to me was: “I’ve been watching what’s going on at the legislature. I understand there is a bill coming that will give us some relief. I don’t care if you vote for it. We don’t want a handout. We want to open our businesses.”

“This is happening across Minnesota. My background in the restaurant business, you know $15,000, $20,000, or $25,000 as the package will do, is great. But it’s nothing in comparison to what our businesses are losing in revenue and income. It’s merely life-support for so many businesses that need more support than this. This may get them by a little bit longer, but they are afraid that passing this package gives the governor an excuse to continue to keep them closed. And they don’t want that. They want to be open. They said, “It’s a drop in the bucket for what we need,” but obviously they’re open to getting something.

“Also as far as the restaurants go, they have to plan to open. They have to get inventory in stock so they don’t lose it again, which they’ve done last time. Now they don’t know what to do.

“A friend of mine who owns a bar in Faribault, Dawn Walker, doesn’t know to order inventory or not. And if they can open on Friday, will she have inventory to sell? These are difficult things in the bar and restaurant hospitality industry.

“Also, I want to go talk to a gal who called me just today, Cari Tuma, from Faribault. I’m not sure if she was screaming or crying on the phone, but she wants her kids back in school. Senator Bakk said a great comment today about getting our kids back in school. We need to do that — it is the number one thing I hear in my community is get our kids back in school. 

“So I’m going to vote in favor of this bill today. But Senators, this does not do what we need to do to continue to help our small businesses and businesses across Minnesota. Get them reopened so they can get their life back to what it used to be.

“Thank you, Mr. President. “

The bill provides emergency assistance in three tiers:

• Direct relief payments: $88 million is allocated for businesses in industries that were directly impacted by the executive order, including bars, restaurants, and gyms. These businesses will receive a check mailed directly to them, with no need to apply. Assistance will be broken down as follows:
  • Businesses that are down 30% in revenue and have 1-20 employees will receive a $15k check
  • Businesses with 21-100 employees will receive $25k
  • Businesses with 101-300 employees will receive $35k
  • Business with more than 300 employees will receive $45k 

• Business grants: $14 million is approved for business relief grants available through DEED. These grants are aimed at businesses like movie theaters and convention centers.

• County-distributed relief: $114.8 million in relief grants will be distributed to counties based on a per capita formula. Counties will then allocate that money to businesses that were directly or indirectly impacted by the executive order. Counties will have wide latitude, but funding must be distributed by March 15.

All relief funds must be used to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility bills, and other similar expenses that occur in the regular course of business.

In addition, the bill extends unemployment insurance benefits for 13 weeks.