Governor’s Emergency Powers are Now a ‘Moot Point’ says Sen. Kent Eken

ST. PAUL (KDLM) – Minnesota Senator Kent Eken believes Governor Walz’ emergency powers are now a “moot point”.

As required by law, the governor has requested an extension to the state of emergency every month since March of 2020, when the pandemic began. Walz continues to hold onto his Peacetime Emergency Powers though the rates of new COVID infections, hospitalizations and deaths have dropped to some of the lowest levels seen since the start of the pandemic.

Eken who has been voting to remove the Governor’s emergency powers says now the powers are a ‘moot point’, “It’s becoming kind of a moot point now because the only thing the Governor is using the emergency powers for now is to try to get more of the vaccinations out.”

The latest extension of the state of emergency comes as nearly 67% of Minnesotans 16 and older have received at least one vaccine dose and the state’s mask mandate has been lifted. Sources close to the Governor believe he’ll retain his emergency powers through August.