Governor Walz defends decisions amid COVID-19 pandemic

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is making some huge decisions in response to the state’s COVID-19 crisis.

He’s issued executive orders shutting down schools and closing bars and restaurants to dine-in customers.

"My top priority is always the protection and security of Minnesotan citizens," he said.

The governor acknowledges some of those orders have gotten pushback.

"Some of the decisions I’ve made can seem incredibly counterintuitive, [people] saying ‘we don’t have a case in our county and our restaurants are small, why can’t we have someone there?’"

Those executive orders include declaring a peacetime emergency.

Some Republican lawmakers have been critical of the governor’s decision-making.

State Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka released a statement that says, in part, "While we understand the necessity of Governor Walz to lead in this time of crisis, that leadership should not be unilateral and unchecked."

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Gazelka said Senate Republicans would "prefer to work with the governor within the legislative process where we can facilitate testimony, oversight, and ultimately, approval of his actions."

Senator Paul Utke, of Park Rapids, was more blunt in his criticism.

"Extreme fear coming from our governor and others around the U.S. needs to be throttled back," Utke said in a written statement. "Our businesses are being shut down with no consideration of lost income. This is extreme overreach by Governor Walz and definitely not acceptable."

But Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is defending Walz.

"The governor is operating well within his statutory and constitutional authority," Ellison said.

That authority comes from a five-member panel, called the Executive Council, made up of the governor, the lieutenant governor, the attorney general, the secretary of state and the state auditor.

The group has to approve those executive orders.

"This is not a false dichotomy that you’re choosing here," Walz said. "’If you choose the safety of Minnesotans, you’re intentionally trying to hurt the economy.’ It is not that simple," he added.

So far, the governor’s orders parallel 2017 guidelines for a pandemic, including measures like social distancing, school closures and postponing mass gatherings. Earlier this week, the Executive Council approved a 30-day extension of the governor’s executive powers.

After that, it will be up to state lawmakers to decide whether those powers should continue.

But how to deal with COVID-19 in Minnesota will likely continue to be a subject of political debate.

Walz said taking action was better than doing nothing.

"The protocols we have in place are based on the best data and the best practices possible," he said. "If we stepped back and did nothing, there is a worse-case trajectory that would play itself out."