The state Senate this afternoon with no dissenting votes approved an additional 21 million dollars for public health agencies to respond to coronavirus in Minnesota. Bill sponsor, Saint Cloud Republican Jerry Relph says, “This is a bipartisan effort and it’s the way government should work.” Roseville Democrat John Marty says he hopes this is all that’s necessary, but no one should be surprised if additional funding is required. “We’ll hope it doesn’t happen that way, but we should all be ready for it and ready to move quickly,” Marty says.
The Minnesota House could take up the bill as soon as this afternoon.