News – Page 219 – Minnesota Senate Republicans

July 13, 2020

Senator Rarick votes to end Walz’s peacetime emergency powers for second time

(St. Paul, MN) – For the second time, Senator Jason Rarick and the Minnesota Senate voted to end Governor Tim Walz’s peacetime emergency powers relative to the COVID pandemic. If the House agrees, it would…

July 12, 2020

Sen. Newman: a review of capitol property damage by protesters

Friends and neighbors, As many of you know, in my capacity as chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee I have convened a series of hearings to investigate several aspects of the state’s response to riots,…

July 10, 2020

Senator Newman: Reviewing the governor’s response to riots in Minneapolis

Friends and neighbors, The third joint hearing of the Senate’s Transportation and Judiciary Committees took place Thursday, July 9, with the objective of investigating the state’s general response to the riots, which agency was in…

July 10, 2020

Senator Housley responds to MDH guidance for long term care visits

Today the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) announced that nursing homes and assisted living facilities will be able to allow scheduled visits from family and friends designated as “essential caregivers”. In response, Senator Karin Housley…

July 10, 2020

Senator Miller: Feedback on reopening schools this fall

Greetings from the district, Over the last several weeks, I have received a significant number of questions, input, and feedback from parents, teachers, school administrators, and students from across the district regarding the fall school…

July 10, 2020

New Drug Transparency Law Enacted in July

The “Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act” law went into effect on July 1st. The bill was put in place to provide greater clarity in healthcare pricing. It requires prescription drug makers to report pricing increase…

July 6, 2020

Senator Westrom Approves Release of Community Funding through Covid CARES Act

St. Paul, MN ‒ Governor Walz announced he would distribute the full $841 million in federal CARES Act funding to local entities. The distribution is according to the approved compromise legislation the Senate and House agreed…

July 6, 2020

Gazelka: If bureaucratic state silences speech, dark times ahead for democracy

(ST. PAUL, MN) – Statement from Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka on Senator Scott Jensen’s revelation of complaints and investigation by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice for his comments of COVID: “Of course I…

July 6, 2020

Jasinski: Special Session compromises and investigating Minneapolis riots

Special Session compromises and investigating Minneapolis riots By: Senator John Jasinski Generally, I am proud of the way Republicans and Democrats compromised during this year’s session. On a litany of issues, we worked well together:…

July 3, 2020

Senator Johnson Pushes to Defend Minnesota’s Unborn Children

On Thursday, the Senate Rules Committee approved obtaining legal counsel to assist the Attorney General’s office in a lawsuit that seeks to overturn decades of bipartisan, common-sense laws protecting the rights of the unborn. “Sanctity…

July 3, 2020

Senator Ingebrigtsen asks Minnesota Historical Society when Columbus statue unlawfully removed from Capitol will be restored

On Wednesday, Senate lawmakers have sent a letter to the Director and CEO of the Minnesota Historical Society regarding the Christopher Columbus statue that was torn down, vandalized, and removed from the State Capitol grounds…

July 2, 2020

Senator Nelson asks Minnesota Historical Society when Columbus statue unlawfully removed from Capitol will be restored

On Wednesday, Senate lawmakers sent a letter to the Director and CEO of the Minnesota Historical Society regarding the Christopher Columbus statue that was torn down, vandalized, and removed from the State Capitol grounds by…

July 1, 2020

Senate Republicans respond to PhRMA lawsuit

Senator Paul Gazelka released the following statement in response to the lawsuit filed by PhRMA: “We are very disappointed with the drug manufacturers’ lawsuit against the Alec Smith Act after so much work went into…

July 1, 2020

Benson: Lawsuit by PhRMA misses the mark, Minnesotans better off if they focus on fair pricing

(ST. PAUL, MN) – Senator Michelle Benson, Chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, released the following statement in response to the lawsuit filed by PhRMA against the Alec Smith Affordable Insulin Act –…

July 1, 2020

Senator Nelson Responds to PhRMA Lawsuit

Minnesota state Senator Carla Nelson (R-Rochester) today released the following statement in response to the lawsuit filed by PhRMA against the Alec Smith Affordable Insulin Act: “The pharmaceutical industry’s decision to sue in order…

July 1, 2020

Senator Jasinski Responds to PhRMA Lawsuit

Minnesota state Senator John Jasinski (R-Faribault) today released the following statement in response to the lawsuit filed by PhRMA against the Alec Smith Affordable Insulin Act: “A lot of people spent a lot of…

July 1, 2020

New Laws Effective July 1, 2020

Courtesy of House Public Information Services. New Laws Effective July 1, 2020 The following is a list of select new laws passed during the 2020 regular legislative session that take effect July 1, 2020. The…

June 30, 2020

Senator Nelson applauds release of COVID aid to local governments

Last week, Governor Tim Walz announced he would distribute the full $841 million in federal CARES funding to local entities. The distribution is according to the approved compromise legislation the Senate and House agreed to in the…

June 29, 2020

Senator Ruud Recognized for Her Dedication to Companion Animals

The Animal Humane Society presented Senator Carrie Ruud (R-Breezy Point) with the 2020 Animal Advocate Award, recognizing her dedication to the welfare of companion animals. This year, Senator Ruud authored Senate File 3481, the Companion…

June 29, 2020

Senator Draheim praises the release of COVID CARES for local communities

(St. Paul, MN) On Friday, Governor Walz announced he would distribute the full $841 million in federal CARES funding to local entities. The distribution follows the approved compromise legislation passed by Senate and House during the recent…