Republicans are asking Governor Tim Walz to invoke emergency powers that would allow health care professionals licensed in other states to be immediately eligible to work in Minnesota facilities. Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka says the state needs to give hospitals the necessary flexibility to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Governor Walz responds, “If there’s a need for health care personnel… and if there are people clamoring to come here to provide that and we can do it safely, I’m certainly open to look it, but… that is not a request that has been made by anybody in the medical field at this point in time.”
But Crookston Representative Deb Kiel says multiple health care organizations have requested action by the governor. Walz says the state must make sure that people coming into Minnesota are qualified to do the work.