Today, The Minnesota Senate passed a bill clarifying the emergency powers of the executive branch. The bill would reverse the current situation and require that both the House and the Senate approve the extension of the Governor’s peacetime emergency powers to prevent the powers from being extended at will by the Executive branch.

“During this Emergency we have worked together to secure plenty of funding, PPE, equipment, and hospital capacity in preparation for a surge,” said Senator Carrie Ruud (R-Breezy Point). “The Governor has received repeated support from the legislature throughout the peacetime emergency and it is time to return to the normal governing process. Restoring the balance of power will once again give all Minnesotans a voice.”

The House and Senate have worked with the Governor to prepare, and now Senate Republicans believe it’s time to continue to restore the powers between the branches of government.