On the first day of 2021, Gov. Walz may have 2022 and the next campaign for governor in the back of his mind.
After all, he confirmed to Blois Olson on the WCCO Morning News that he does have a fund-raiser scheduled during the first full week of January.
“Yeah, that’s fair,” Walz said, a hint of a smile coming through.
But the first full week of the new year is also when the governor is likely to reveal the next dial-back of COVID-19 restrictions.
“The data on case positivity (in Minnesota) is incredibly encouraging right now, hospitalizations have stabilized, yesterday we had the lowest number since Nov. 1st in the hospital,” he said, calling shrinking hospitalization a “huge” factor in determining what’s next.
“Hopefully, by Tuesday or Wednesday of next week we’ll try and get that guidance out,” said Walz.
Leaders in the entertainment and hospitality industry are the ones most anxious to hear what the governor has determined.
Many continue to reel financially from elimination of in-person dining that went into place nearly two months ago, with some businesses going as far as to defy those orders.
“I keep hearing that a lot; striking a proper balance,” said Walz.
That’s something state Sen. Michelle Benson (31-GOP) is calling for, sending a message to the governor last month and repeating her request earlier Friday on the WCCO Morning News.
“We haven’t had a good balance up to this point,” she said, suggesting it’s time for the governor to stop making unilateral decisions under the peacetime emergency that he declared last March and has extended several times since.
“The legislature is coming back in session and I think it needs to be really clear that the legislature is here and we are going to be part of these decisions going forward,” said Benson.
“I’ve continued to tell people how we come to these decisions,” said Walz. “I listened to your interview with Sen. Benson; a great partner in getting things right. We don’t agree on everything politically, but I think (she’s) someone who wants to get things done.”
Minnesota’s 92nd legislative biennium begins Monday, with the swearing-in of lawmakers who won election last year, and ends May 17.
