SC Minnesota News

Sen. Julie Rosen and other Senate Republicans sent a letter to Gov. Tim Walz about emergency power and legal enforcement of the executive orders. 

Emergency Executive Order 20-33 made it a gross misdemeanor for a business owner, manager or supervisor to encourage employees to violate the executive order, punishable by a fine of $3,000 or less and up to a year in jail. The current law states that violating an executive order is only a misdemeanor. 

"Ultimately, this interpretation of executive authority is alarming because there would be no limitation to the severity of the punishment that Gov. Walz or any other governor acting under emergency powers authority could impose without any legislative action. The emergency powers authority provided in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 12, is not a blank check for the imposition of criminal penalties," the letter states.

As the state faces record unemployment, the Senate passed small business grants. Small businesses were also given permission to open if they followed rules set forth by Minnesota Department of Health. 

"We passed these measures because Minnesota’s economy – and the state budget that depends on its success – needs all the support we can offer. However, it appears the executive branch does not share our concerns about the plight of Minnesota businesses," the letter states. 

Rosen told the Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus that she does not agree with many of the decisions Gov. Walz has recently made.

"I suggest that we allow businesses and people to decide how best to safely interact," Rosen said to the Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus. "The government doesn’t need to be prescribing our every movement to keep us safe."

Rosen's end-of-session legislative update can be found here. The letter to Gov. Walz can be found here.