Tri-County News

Hello, District 13! – May 21, 2021


Congratulations Class of 2021!

I am so happy to share in the excitement of your graduation day, and so very proud of you, too! Good luck in your future endeavors, and the resiliency you have shown over the last year will serve you well in your next chapters of life.

National Guard Monument dedication

Representative O’Driscoll, Representative Demuth, and I had the honor of attending a National Guard memorial dedication ceremony honoring the three guardsmen who were killed after their helicopter crashed just south of
St. Cloud more than a year and a half ago.

You’ll recall that James Rogers Jr., Charles Nord, and Kort -Plantenberg paid the ultimate price Dec.5, 2019. To commemorate these heroes, a memorial has been created near the crash site, and a bench recognizing each of these fallen soldiers has been placed there.

The three of us were invited to a gathering at the memorial that included members of their National Guard unit. It was such a privilege to be there with the troops and their leadership, to hear their stories about their fallen comrades, and to visit with them.

Mask mandate lifted

The CDC updated its COVID-19 guidance last Thursday, indicating fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask. It also was good to see the governor follow the CDC’s lead by lifting the statewide mandate on masks.

There are several exceptions, however. Local municipalities and businesses can still choose to have a mask mandate in place. Moreover, the Safe Learning Plan will be in effect through the end of the 2020-21 academic year, meaning K-12 students will still be required to wear masks in school and on the school bus.

Political science has determined that our children still need to wear a mask at school. The medical science and data have shown that it is safe for kids to be in the classroom without a mask.

No mandatory vaccines

I have been hearing from many of my constituents voicing opposition to vaccines SF 2554/HF 2634, which would require immunizations for everyone and dismantle the exemption for individuals whose beliefs are different than the government.

For those of you concerned, I would like you to rest easy. This bill has been brought forward throughout the years and each time it has been struck down by Republicans.

Personal choice, not public pressure or coercion, must be the only factor in getting the COVID-19 vaccine or any other.

I will continue to do everything I can to make sure all vaccines are purely voluntary. Your health, your choice.

Special session in the works

The governor must call a special session in mid-June if he wants to extend Minnesota’s state of emergency declaration yet again. There is no sign that Governor Walz is ready to relinquish his powers anytime soon. There have been numerous proposals to end or limit Governor Walz’s emergency powers over the past year. The latest would still provide for the continued receipt of federal funds while ending all other Emergency Powers/Orders. It is a reasonable approach that has been done in other states.

The 2021 legislative session mandated May 17 adjournment

The 2021 regular legislative session officially came to an end Monday due to the constitutionally mandated May 17 adjournment.

Discussions will continue in the coming days and weeks to craft budget bills to be passed in a future special session. Budget bills must be passed on or before the end of June or state government will shut down beginning July 1, 2021.

June 30, the last day of the fiscal year, has been referred to by some as the “real” deadline.

Waiting until mid-June to act on a mid-May agreement is a lifetime in legislative terms, so it remains to be seen how this framework of a deal withstands the pressures of the next few weeks.

Senate Republicans remain focused on protecting Minnesota families, seniors, main street businesses and our communities. Our budget agreement ensures that Minnesotans face no new taxes while ensuring that we continue to make smart investments in education, transportation, and healthcare.

Changes could occur to the budget agreement that was reached before a special session is called.

I hope we could set a timeline for the governor’s emergency powers to be lifted; there is no emergency in our state as we continue re-opening. Vaccinations are up, and infection rates are low. Vaccinations are available for anyone who wants or needs one. Minnesotans deserve to know when we will return to our representative system of government with 201 legislators participating in the decision-making process instead of one person calling the shots.

Contact me

You’re invited to follow me on social media. Be sure to follow me on my Facebook page for the latest news from the Capitol and District 13. You’ll find legislative updates, constituent photos, events, video updates, and more.

Senator Jeff Howe

3235 Minnesota Senate Building

95 University Avenue West

Saint Paul, MN 55155

Tel: (651) 296-2084

Email: sen.jeff.howe@senate.mn

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