The Minnesota Legislature Monday night approved 216-million-dollars in grants to bars, restaurants and other businesses shut down by the governor’s emergency order, plus a 13-week extension of unemployment benefits — which now head to Governor Tim Walz for his expected signature. Republican Andrew Mathews from Princeton was one of just four senators voting “no”. Mathews said, “This bill that the governor asked for, right after shutting down our restaurants and our hospitality industry again, is just cookie crumbs from the royal table.” Roseville Democrat John Marty fired back the governor didn’t cause the problem and Marty says he wishes the state could do more for businesses and unemployed workers. “But the one thing I do know is, if we take the precautions the public health experts say, we have fewer dead people and fewer closed businesses,” Marty said.
Republican Senator Eric Pratt from Prior Lake, who sponsored the business aid measure, said, “I don’t disagree with the governor’s emergency powers because he’s a Democrat. I disagree with the governor because he’s been wrong every damn time.” Democrat Marty fired back, “Let’s not pretend that we’re doing this because the governor caused this problem, ‘cuz the governor didn’t cause this problem. Plenty of people, I could argue, made it a lot worse than it needed to be.”
It’s expected Walz will announce tomorrow (Wed) whether business closures will continue beyond this Friday, December 18th.