Rep. Paul Marquart Believes Walz will Extend Emergency Powers Through August

ST. PAUL (KDLM) – Governor Walz extended his Peacetime Emergency Powers for another 30 days on Monday and will likely extend them through August.

Throughout the last 16 months Republicans and even some Democrats have called for an end to the use of emergency powers. The governor, however says they allow the state to better respond to the pandemic as the situation changes.

Rep. Paul Marquart believes the Governor will likely extend the powers through August, “I had a conversation with Governor Walz last Thursday and it sounds like this month and maybe one more and that is going to be it. All the executive powers that people had concerns over are done…the main thing we need to finish now are vaccinations.”

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.

Over the last several weeks, the rates of new infections, hospitalizations and deaths have dropped to some of the lowest levels seen since the start of the pandemic.