A battle is brewing at the capital in St. Paul over Minnesota's response to the coronavirus outbreak.
House Republicans say they will block passage of a bonding bill unless Governor Walz ends the peacetime emergency that has led to stay-at-home orders and the closing of businesses.
The bonding bill, setting aside funding for infrastructure projects throughout the state, requires 3/5 majority, or 81 votes, for passage.
The measure also must originate in the Minnesota House of Representatives.
The current legislative session, which has been done in large part through remote technology since the stay-at-home order went into effect, is scheduled to end March 18.
That's the same day the governor's executive order is set to expire.
"House Republicans are ready and willing to work with the governor on the COPVID response, and on a bonding bill," said House GOP leader Kurt Daudt. "But it's time for the governor to work with the legislature on our plan forward."
Walz declared the peacetime emergency on March 13, with the stay-at-home order taking effect two weeks later.
The order has since been extended three times.
"The governor needed his emergency powers to navigate the fast-moving crisis," said Daudt. "But after two months of unilateral power and decision making, it's time for him to work with us on decisions and actions regarding the future of our state."
A spokesman for Walz says the governor wants to get Minnesotans back to work while keeping them safe.
"As he follows the guidance of public hyealth experts, Governor Walz is working with Minnesota lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, a bipartisan group of midwestern governors, and the White House to keep Minnesotans safe," said Walz spokesperson Teddy Tschann in a statement. "The governor is committed to getting Minnesotans back to work safely, and he's asked the legislture to join him by passing a robust local jobs and projects plan."
The dispute comes after traffic in front of the state capitol in St. Paul was blocked for about an hour by people calling on the governor for an immediate and full re-opening of the state's economy.
Since the stay-at-home order went into effect, many smaller businesses have decided to close for good, while a record number of Minnesotans have applied for unemployment benefits.
At Regions Hospital, just blocks away from the capitol building, health care workers demonstrated on behalf of the gradual reopening of the state's economy, saying that would prevent a surge of COVID-19 cases that would overwhelm the state's health care system.
According to Sunday's coronavirus update from the state health department, there are now 6,663 confirmed coronavirus cases in Minnesota, with 3,015 patients recovering.
There are 419 fatal cases, all but 81 of those deaths involving long-term care or assisted living residents.
In each of the past four days, more than 3,000 coronavirus tests have been completed, including a high of 4,124 tests reported in last Friday's update.
Governor Walz had set a goal of at least 5,000 tests a day by Monday, and he says the recent ramping up of tests is going as planned.