Governor Tim Walz Announces End to His Emergency Powers

(KNSI) – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz Friday announced to lawmakers that he would end the emergency powers he assumed at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic last year.

The powers allowed him to rule by executive order, which some other lawmakers say he used to skirt the legislature and take power away from the people who elected them and had been trying to strip the governor of his emergency powers since last year. Most of the orders issued have been rescinded as vaccination numbers go up and case numbers go down.

The governor said the state has a “handle on this,” and we “have the long-term ability to be able to manage COVID,” and “We’ll end the emergency powers on the first of August.” He also added a quip about the political divide over his retaining his emergency powers, saying, “The Republican legislators may tell you they’re super happy about that. I guarantee you I’m happier than they are.”

Lawmakers are in a special session now to hammer out the final details for the next two-year budget cycle. June marks the 17th month legislators have been at the Capitol as both chambers need to vote on the governor retaining his emergency powers, and they will have to do that again in July for the final time.

The emergency powers will be officially rescinded beginning at 12:01 a.m. on August 2nd.

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