The Governor called the Senate back to the Capitol today for a second special session. In response, Senate Republicans presented a resolution intended to eliminate the Governor’s peacetime emergency powers initially enacted to prepare the state for the COVID-19 pandemic. If the House agrees, it would put an end to the state’s longest peacetime emergency in history. Walz first put the state under emergency powers on March 13, 2020.

“It is not reasonable or appropriate for Governor Walz to continue extending his emergency powers at this time,” said Senator Michelle Benson (R-Ham Lake). “One man cannot effectively govern a population meant to be represented by equal branches of government and local entities. Governor Walz continues to undercut the voices of Minnesotans by unilaterally extending his peacetime emergency powers. I believe Minnesotans will do the right thing and help keep the virus in check.

The vote to end the peacetime emergency was 36-31, with one Democrat joining Republicans in support of the resolution.